Sport

Blackrock cut loose to swamp Roscrea

Blackrock College 32 - 6 Cistercian, Roscrea: Blackrock College served notice to semi-final opponents Belvedere College with…

Thu Feb 27 2003 - 00:00

Blackrock College 32 - 6 Cistercian, Roscrea: Blackrock College served notice to semi-final opponents Belvedere College with a comprehensive win over Cistercian College, Roscrea, in the Leinster Schools, Section C, Junior Cup quarter-final at Donnybrook yesterday.

The pre-tournament favourites handled the slippery conditions and Leinster league winners with impressive ease. In the previous round, Blackrock had two exceptional three-quarters in centre Luke Fitzgerald and left wing Vasya Artemiev. The former confirmed this, in no uncertain terms, with a wonderful jinking run to the posts in the 10th minute. He also converted for a 7-0 lead.

Roscrea centre Peter O'Brien kicked a penalty in the 14th minute, and scrumhalf Myles O'Riordan slotted another, shortly after, as their big, powerful forwards, led by captain Martin Staunton, began to exert pressure around the fringes.

But, Blackrock threatened everytime outhalf Eoin Fleck moved the ball. They responded, in champion style, with a second try from right wing Niall Morris to take a 12-6 lead to the break.

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The second-half got underway with number eight O'Connor setting off on a lung-bursting run that was only stopped by a brave, head-on tackle by full back Brian O'Donnell. The ball was recycled for Fleck to skin the opposition on the outside.

In truth, the winners were street-smart and sensible in possession, given the conditions. Their all-round strength in depth was apparent from the first minute.

Right wing Morris sprinted over at the corner, scrumhalf Dave Moore wriggled to the line from close-in and Fleck kicked a penalty to make it 32-6 by the 56th minute.

Roscrea did have their chances for a consolation try in the last five minutes. However, their forwards were repelled near the line.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: C O'Toole; N Morris, L Fitzgerald, E Cody, V Artemiev; E Fleck, D Moore; J Allen, D O'Brien, W Kavanagh, P Ryan, E Costigan, A Cullen, J Manahan, D O'Connor. Replacements: R Donnolly for Allen (48 mins); S Rogers for O'Toole (53 mins); P Maher for Ryan (56 mins); A Lynch for O'Brien (59 mins).

CISTERCIAN COLLEGE: B O'Donnell; J Corcoran, K Fullam, P O'Brien, B O'Connell; G Boland, M O'Riordan; N Harney, S Hayes, C Egan, N O'Donoghue, P Henry, J Tierney, K Forde, M Staunton. Replacements: N McCarthy for Forde (51 mins).

Referee: W Sheridan (Leinster Branch).