Schools Rugby Leinster Senior Cup Blackrock College 10 Kilkenny College 10"Do you think we could get the replay down the country?" asked Kilkenny coach Jeff Carter after yesterday's surprising result. Considering the numbers Kilkenny and Blackrock drew to Donnybrook yesterday, a venue switch for next week's replay seems unlikely.
But oh, how the 80 to 1 outsiders could do with such a bonus. The defending champions were blessed to avoid a defeat that would be recorded as the most shocking in their proud history. Like the 6-3 victory over Gonzaga, they dominated possession and territory, yet failed to pull away.
Also, like the first-round escape, Blackrock conceded a try that was then disallowed by the officials. Kilkenny loosehead prop Kieran McArdle dived over the line on 13 minutes after inspirational captain Ben Horan brought them inches shy with a quick penalty tap.
However, as Craig Ronaldson began his conversion routine, referee John Carvill was deep in conversation with touch judge David Keane. The result was a relieving penalty to Blackrock, with secondrow Jason McAssey spoken to at length for what transpired to be an off-the-ball punch.
Kilkenny are new to the elite section of the Leinster Schools Cup, but they undoubtedly bring a refreshing attitude. For starters, they justify the competition's title with annual threats to break the south Dublin (and Belvedere) cartel.
Ronaldson had them in front with a penalty inside a minute when David Cawley was pinged for not rolling away at the breakdown.
McArdle - one of three Leinster under-19 representatives in the team alongside fullback Nevil Copeland and lock Wesley Carter - set the tone with some rampaging runs around the fringe, while Copeland buried Blackrock winger Robert Johnson with a monstrous early tackle.
While these three made significant contributions, it was the destructive force of openside Ben Horan at, what seemed, every tackle zone that denied Blackrock their expected rhythm.
Still, everything did look primed for a predictable afternoon when scrumhalf Conor Crowley took a pass from number eight Jason Harris Wright off a five-yard scrum to claim the opening try on seven minutes. Ian Madigan slotted the touchline conversion.
Early in the second half, a James Ronan break, carried on by Jan Simon Byrne eventually saw Madigan profit from more hands on the ground to make it 10-3.
That seemed to be that, but Blackrock upped the error count to allow Kilkenny edge down field. A try still looked highly unlikely until Carter forced his body across the line and then Ronaldson held his nerve to level matters.
Back came Blackrock and McArdle was penalised at a ruck marginally to the right of the uprights, 25 yards out. Madigan pulled his kick left to ensure the most unlikely of replays.
SCORING SEQUENCE: One min - C Ronaldson pen, 3-0; Seven mins - C Crowley try, 3-5; I Madigan conv, 3-7. Half-time. 41 mins - I Madigan pen, 3-10; 66 mins - W Carter try, 8-10; C Ronaldson conv, 10-10.
KILKENNY COLLEGE: N Copeland; B Braithwaite, S Yates, G Ryhnart, C Masterson; C Ronaldson, S Hemmingway; K McArdle, K Dagg, G Beattie; W Carter, J McAssey; M D'Alton, B Horan (capt), T Dukelow. Replacements: G Dunne for K Dagg (53 mins); D Ryall for C Masterson, P Mahon for S Yates (both 59).
BLACKROCK COLLEGE : I Madigan; R Johnson, S Rogers (capt), J Ronan, J Simon Byrne; D Fitzpatrick, C Crowley; J Leyden, D Tunney, S Schuster; M Cawley, E Sheriff; R Ronayne, T Parsons, J Harris-Wright. Replacements: S Ashmore for S Rogers (33 mins); K Cahill for D Tunney (38); R Quigley for R Ronayne (62); D Hillery for M Cawley (63).
Referee: J Carvill (ARLB).
