The pre-season formbook didn't lie at Templeville Road yesterday. King's Hospital bounded into a second round meeting with Section `A' new boys St Columba's while High School contemplated the emptiness of a first-round exit. Not that High School had the look of also-rans all through. They competed feverishly - especially in the first half - when they revealed a capacity to absorb real pressure and counter to stunning effect.

Hugh Geoghegan and Richard Thompson traded early penalties as the respective packs set about each other in a manner reflective of the unstinting commitment that pervades cup rugby at this level.

Geoghegan's slick inside pass put captain John Bagnall in on 18 minutes, only for High School to strike back with the finest piece of rugby of an afternoon that was not short on quality. When the ball was moved left to Thompson inside the Hospital half, there seemed to be ample cover. But, the winger showed his pace in simply gliding outside Eric Bolton and into the left corner.

That made it all square. Unfortunately for High School it also got King's Hospital's dander up. Centre Michael Dwyer evaded Justin O'Malley from close in and Geoghegan converted to put the winners 15-8 ahead. From then on High School were forced onto the back foot by the sheer weight of numbers coming at them.

The beaten League finalists came at High School in waves with their back row of Jonathan Wills, Bagnall and Peter Gibson making the biggest splash. In fact, Wills (two) and Gibson accounted for three of the quartet of second-half tries that came Hospital's way. Out-half Geoghegan got the other and kicked two conversions.

While this is a side based on the strengths of what has gone before them down the years - an abrasive and disciplined pack of forwards - the three-quarter line is as physically strong as any in the tournament.

KING'S HOSPITAL: D Watkins; E Bolton, B McGeever, M Dwyer, D Lyons; H Geoghegan, N Geoghegan; R Milligan, D Murphy, B Curran; R Darlington, T Lennon; J Wills, J Bagnall, P Gibson.

HIGH SCHOOL: M McCullough; A Dunne, R Wynne, J Fennell, R Thompson; D Downey, D Campbell; B Shehy, R McNally, D Dunne; B Marconi, J O'Malley; N Stanley, J Collins, R Douglas. Replacements: H Hogan for Stanley (62 mins); G O'Meara for Downey (69 mins).

Referee: P Swaine (ARLB).