Schools Rugby/Leinster and Munster Senior Cups: Wesley College came fractionally close to at least forcing a replay in yesterday's Vinnie Murray Cup quarter-final at Blackrock College but to say they were sinned against would be a slight on the marvellous performance of Mount Temple.
The north Dublin school - with their best side in years - earned the right to pit their wits against Terenure College on January 31st in the first round of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup by overcoming Pres, Bray, last week and now another school more renowned on the rugby field have fallen.
Two tries in the opening 18 minutes gave them the platform but thereafter it was a refusal to allow their more esteemed opponents even a sniff of the line that ensured victory.
The whole pack were elevated to hero status yesterday, ably led by captain Stephen Boyle, but in Irish under-19 centre Max Rantz-McDonald they have a real gem of a player.
A cleverly weighted pass from outhalf Ian Denham after just five minutes allowed Rantz-McDonald to burst through the first line of defence before outsprinting full back Paul Murphy to touch down.
The try, converted by Ian Denham, cancelled Henry Micks' early penalty and they really flexed their muscles when Mark Johnson was driven over the line by his forwards to leave it 12-3 at the break. With a second-half onslaught sure to be forthcoming, the only fear was Mount Temple's lead would be insufficient.
Wesley duly cranked up the pressure with Micks landing two splendid penalties but it was his agonising miss on the hour mark that kept three points between the sides. The long-range effort was hit well but just dropped short.
The rest of the contest was played largely in the Wesley half with Mount Temple retaining possession cleverly, while showing an organisation in defence that denied a late breakaway try.
Boyle was excellent at number eight but his back row lieutenants, Glen Predy and Johnson, were not shy of taking on responsibility, nor was loosehead Joe Carlyle. Man of the match, though, was Rantz-McDonald for his sheer tenacity, be it in the tackle when he always tried to rob possession, and sometimes did, or taking the ball into contact in the final nervy minutes.
Terenure should prove a challenge too far, but for a change Mount Temple will not be out of place amongst the elite.
Scoring sequence: 3 mins: H Micks pen, 0-3; 6: M Rantz-McDonald try, 5-3; I Denham conv, 7-3; 18: M Johnson try, 12-3. Half-time. 43: H Micks pen, 12-6; 50: H Micks pen, 12-9.
MOUNT TEMPLE: P Murphy; J Gavin, M Rantz-McDonald, S O'Byrne, D Ramsbottom; I Denham, S Glynn; J Carlyle, P Dawson, J O'Keeffe; D Whelan, E McCabe; M Johnson, S Boyle (capt), G Predy. Replacements: H Gill for J Gavin, A Sabongi for D Whelan (both 54 mins).
WESLEY COLLEGE: K Johnston; N Mukthar, D Goode, C Power, L Keogh; H Micks, E McLoughlin; R Phelan, J Brickenden, P Walker; D Lyons, A Culhane; G Baughfoley, I Slattery (capt), M O'Byrne. Replacements: R Murphy for N Mukthar (half-time), G Hunt for M O'Byrne (73 mins).
Referee: P Dennehy (Leinster Branch).
