Schools Rugby Leinster Senior Cup: Blackrock College - 18 Belvedere - 3 Belvedere College full back Conor Hayes raced onto a superb long flat pass, glided through a gap and stretched his legs heading towards the Blackrock College 22 metre line.
Unchecked, he made it to within 10 yards of the line, glancing to his outside to confirm the presence of left wing Jack Whelan and the prospect of a likely try.
Unfortunately when he looked, Whelan wasn't there, having been taken out off the ball, not once but twice. The most partisan Belvedere supporters may have clamoured for a penalty try but the minimum award should have been a penalty. Referee Des Woods was oblivious to the interference and so, as the ball slipped from a Belvedere hand and Blackrock regained possession on their own line, the game's pivotal moment favoured the light blue and white.
The incident took place on 54 minutes of yesterday's Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road with Belvedere trailing 8-3 but displaying the self belief that they could win the game. It was a brief flirtation, mentally and physically, and one that Blackrock ruthlessly quashed soon after. Belvedere may point to one other moment, late in the first half when they were in the unusual position of pressing the Blackrock line.
As Belvedere scrumhalf Brian O'Neill went to link with outhalf Ian Keatley, looking to clear quick ruck ball, a Blackrock player, trying to repatriate himself to his own side from a previous ruck, ambled between the halfbacks. The rugby phrase "lazy runner" was coined for just such an eventuality. It should have been a penalty but the infringement went uncensored.
Belvedere, though, did not have victory pickpocketed at Lansdowne Road yesterday. Blackrock thoroughly deserved the win. It's just that the latter had such a hard time confirming that superiority. They squandered a handful of chances by ignoring obvious overlaps out wide, instead either kicking away possession or cutting back to the bosom of their impressive pack. When Blackrock learn to interpret the playbook rather than slavishly adhere to it, someone could be in for a hiding.
There is so much to admire about their forward play, from the driving maul from lineouts to a physically punishing pick and drive philosophy. Diarmuid Laffan led by example, one embraced by the whole pack but especially their excellent number eight Darren O'Reilly.
It's not as if Blackrock don't possess the cutting edge out wide. In Vasya Artemiev, Michael Kavanagh and the outstanding David Nyhan, they boast the tournament's best back three combination. This, coupled with the broadsword/rapier midfield axis of James Power and Luke Fitzgerald should yield more scores.
When focused and not encumbered by nervy handling, there was a relentless, patient quality to Blackrock's rugby and it is a testament to Belvedere's obduracy that they hung in for long periods. Brian Kennedy, the excellent Hugh McGreevy, Harry Lacey, Ger Brennan, Kevin Barden and replacement Brian Moran epitomised that tenacity and also displayed small cameos of ability with the ball in hand.
Belvedere suffered the disappointment of losing key players like Marcus McAllister and Eoin Wiegel and allowing Blackrock an ideal start before rousing themselves.
Blackrock outhalf Daniel Barnett kicked a penalty on five minutes but could not improve upon a try scored by Artemiev. The Russian-born wing had little to do after the pack laid waste to the Belvedere defence and Nyhan gave his wing man an unopposed five yard jaunt.
Hayes kicked a penalty for Belvedere just before the interval with his second attempt. Blackrock's anticipated dominance never quite materialised until their wake-up call. It removed any complacency. Kavanagh sliced through the Belvedere defence on 62 minutes for a try, coming off the blindisde wing outside Power, a move completed with training ground precision.
Barnett added the conversion and posted a penalty four minutes later to ease his side into an 18-3 lead which they maintained to a finish that included seven minutes of injury time. If Blackrock can release the handbrake of conservatism then this team will take some beating.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 5 mins: Barnett penalty, 3-0; 13: Artemiev try, 8-0; 34: Hayes penalty, 8-3. half-time: 8-3. 62: Kavanagh try, Barnett conversion, 15-3; 66: Barnett penalty, 18-3.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: D Nyhan; M Kavanagh, L Fitzgerald, J Power, V Artemiev; D Barnett, D Madigan; G Walsh, P Young, S Snell; M Cantrell, R O'Hara; D Laffan (capt), D O'Reilly, G Flanagan. Replacements: C Culliton for Young (42 mins); N Murphy for Nyhan (64 mins); M Lynch for Cantrell (67 mins); N Lysaght for Flanagan (72 mins).
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: C Hayes; K Barden, M McAllister, K Gormley, J Whelan; I Keatley, B O'Neill (capt); H Mahon, D Gilchrist, E Weigel; H McGreevy, H Lacey; G Brennan, B Kennedy, R McDonald. Replacements: B Moran for McAllister (16 mins); D Keane for McDonald (half-time); C Healy for Weigel (40 mins); R Carson for Gilchrist (66 mins).
Referee: D Woods (Leinster).
