{"id":25618,"date":"2022-03-26T18:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-26T22:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25618"},"modified":"2022-03-27T09:35:48","modified_gmt":"2022-03-27T13:35:48","slug":"leinster-overcome-14-man-connacht-after-breaking-westerners-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25618","title":{"rendered":"Leinster Overcome 14-Man Connacht After Breaking Westerners’ Resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Connacht v Leinster (United Rugby Championship)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fourteen-man Connacht were floored by six second-half tries as Leinster ran out 45-8 winners of a bruising United Rugby Championship derby at The Sportsground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connacht had center Tom Daly sent off in the second minute for a no-arms tackle on Ciaran Frawley, but Tiernan O\u2019Halloran\u2019s try gave the hosts an 8-7 interval lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Carty, who had kicked an earlier penalty, set up O\u2019Halloran\u2019s score with a pinpoint pass, replying to a converted 13th-minute effort from Leinster winger Rory O\u2019Loughlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going up a gear, replacement fly-half David Hawkshaw and captain Luke McGrath crossed after 52 and 55 minutes to give Leinster some breathing space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawkshaw increased his influence as Frawley bagged the bonus point before Tommy O\u2019Brien (2) and Max Deegan made it a seven-try rout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Referee Chris Busby was busy right from the off, sin-binning Leinster winger O\u2019Brien after just 45 seconds for taking out Niall Murray in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Connacht were rocked by Daly\u2019s red card soon after as he was dismissed for a shoulder to Frawley\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ross Byrne\u2019s long pass had O\u2019Loughlin crossing on the left after the Leinster forwards had carried up close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visitors, who were missing their contributors to Ireland\u2019s Triple Crown success, were unable to build on that converted try, though.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carty began the second quarter with a well-struck penalty and Connacht\u2019s scrum got on top, a strong finish to the half leading to that well-crafted try for O\u2019Halloran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response, Leinster sparked during the third quarter, with a barnstorming Rhys Ruddock run getting them back into scoring range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawkshaw, who is joining Connacht in the summer, showed impressive strength to crash over. The 22-year-old converted and also added the extras to McGrath\u2019s sniping effort as he exploited a gap in the hosts\u2019 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawkshaw then used a turnover to dangle a kick through, John Porch failed to gather it and Frawley swooped to score. The latter soon sent O\u2019Brien over in the right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back-rower Deegan burrowed over in the 71st minute and O\u2019Brien flew over from a sharp backs move, as Connacht\u2019s play-off hopes took a big hit. – United Rugby Championship<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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