Schools rugby novices Wexford CBS were taught a lesson in the final skills of the game by Sandford Park from Dublin who ran in seven tries for their comprehensive victory in their Leinster Senior Cup game (section A) at Arklow yesterday.
Wexford CBS are more noted as a hurling stronghold and for many of their players this was their first competitive rugby match. Their inexperience showed particularly in the first half.
Sandford Park penalised their indiscretions even more as they ran in three tries, the first by Peter Ford and then two more by Kevin Crowley to lead by 15-0 at the break after playing against the gale force wind.
Wexford CBS showed spirit and after settling in they played their best rugby in a 10-minute period either side of half-time but for all their pressure they just could not pierce the Sandford Park line.
Sandford Park then got back on track with McGrath, Hickey, Morgan Stephenson and Crowley all scoring tries for a comprehensive victory.
Sandford Park: C Hickey; D Johnston, D Quinn, C McNulty, M Collery; A Alipour, R Gormley; P Forde, K Crowley, M Stephenson, J Doody, E McFall, D Cairns, M McGrath, E Byrne. Replacements: D Thom for J Doody, G Walsh for D Johnston, F Hayes for M Stephenson.
Wexford CBS: C Taylor; R O'Leary, W Roche, B O'Connor, T Donaghue; B Ryan, K Hunt; M Doyle, A Evans, P Delaney, R Allen, T Kent, P Brennan, N Dempsey. Replacements: I Parle for P Brennan, P Walsh for R O'Leary, R Reville for C Taylor.
Referee: P Fitzpatrick (Leinster Branch)
