Sport

Newpark's flying start leaves rivals Skerries all at sea

SCHOOL'S RUGBY MCMULLEN CUP FINAL: Newpark Comp 30 Skerries CC 5

Thu Dec 16 2010 - 00:00

SCHOOL'S RUGBY MCMULLEN CUP FINAL:Newpark Comp 30 Skerries CC 5

A GREASE-LIGHTNING start, yielding 10 points from two tries in as many minutes, was the foundation for Newpark Comprehensive to deliver the Leinster Schools’ (Section A) McMullen Senior Cup at Donnybrook yesterday.

The hot favourites started in whirlwind fashion, keeping the ball away from Skerries in a series of punching moves in close and out wide for Fergus Halpin to fend off the first tackler and round the second to plant the ball with his outstretched arm in the first minute.

It was exactly what Skerries couldn’t afford to do – concede early. Immediately, Leinster under-19 Zac Jungmann propelled Newpark forward on a 40-metre run and, minutes later, was last man on the outside for their second try. It was all happening too quickly for the underdogs.

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From there, the north Dubliners fought for every blade of grass as Newpark outhalf James Kelly kicked a penalty and left wing Odhran Duignan’s crossed to make it 18-0 at the interval.

Centre Halpin sauntered in for his second as Newpark continued to play a brand of fluent open rugby.

Skerries were outplayed, but never outfought, and hooker Kieran Leonard claimed their only try in the 52nd minute from one of their trademark powerful lineout-maul drives before fullback Sam Crowe rounded off a most impressive Newpark display.

NEWPARK COMPREHENSIVE:S Crowe; O Duignan, E O'Connor, F Halpin (capt), R Sherlock; J Kelly, E Thornley; K Sundermann, J Sheehan, A Marshall, R Garland, H Connor, J Wheatly, B Clarke, Z Jungmann. Replacements: F Howley for Sherlock (h-t); L Hanratty for Clarke, D Bourke for Sundermann (both 45 mins); O Baugh for Kelly (temp 46 mins); J Middleton for Connor (53 mins); E McDonnell for Thornley (61 mins); R Healy for Wheatly (65 mins); O Baugh for Duignan (69 mins).

SKERRIES CC:E Fox; S Fox, F Grant, S O'Driscoll, P Tucker; K McGrath, E Carron; P Carty-Heffernan, K Leonard, S Dwyer (capt), P Rooney, V Watson, J Palmer, A Sherlock, M Boylan. Replacements: C Horgan for Watson (23 mins); C Delamere for O'Driscoll (47 mins); R Grimes for Carty-Heffernan (53 mins); D Sisk for S Fox, S Sisk for Grant (both 65 mins).

Referee:N Brannigan (Leinster Branch).

SCHOOLS CUP DATES CONFIRMED

FR GODFREY CUP

First Round (2.30):Jan 25th: A. Wesley College v Skerries CC, Distillery Road; B. East Glendalough v Cistercian Roscrea, Co Carlow RFC; C. Templeogue College v St Gerard's School, Kilternan; D. High School v King's Hospital School, Coolmine RFC.

Second Round (2.30):Feb 1st: E. De La Salle v CBS Naas, NUI Maynooth; G. Winner A v Winner B, North Kildare RFC; H. Winner C v Winner D, Ballycorus; F. CUS/Gonzaga (loser) v Presentation Bray, Railway Union.

Semi-final:(Q1) Winner E v (Q2) Winner G; (Q3) Winner H v (Q4) Winner F.

LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP

First Round (2.30):A. Clongowes Wood College v Terenure College, Feb 6th, Donnybrook; B. CUS/Gonzaga College (Winner) v Q1, Feb 10th, Guinness RFC; C. Kilkenny College v St Mary's College, Feb 10th, Naas RFC; D. Blackrock College v CBC Monkstown, Feb 8th, Donnybrook; E. Q 3 V Newbridge College, Feb 10th, Clondalkin RFC; F. Q4 v Belvedere College, Feb 10th, Anglesea Rd; G. St Andrew's College v St Michael's College, Feb 10th, Stradbrook; H. Q2 v Castleknock College, Feb 10th, Alsaa/North Kildare.

Second Round (3.0):Winner A v B, Mar 8th, Templeville Road; Winner C v D, Mar 8th, Donnybrook; Winner E v F, Mar 10th, Lakelands; Winner G v H, Mar 10th.

Semi-finals (3.30):M. Winner (A/B) v Winner (C/D), Mar 16th; N. Winner (E/F) v Winner (G/H), Mar 20th.

Final:Mar 27th.

VINNIE MURRAY CUP DRAW

First Round (2.30):Jan 19th: A. High School v CBS Monkstown, Kilternan; B. St Andrew's v CUS, Railway Union; C. Sandford Park v Skerries Com College, Ashbourne RFC; D. Newpark Comprehensive v Presentation Bray, Ballycorus; E. Mount Temple v King's Hospital/Newbridge (Loser), Barnhall RFC.

Second Round:Jan 26th: F. Templeogue College v Wesley College, Anglesea Road; Winner A v Winner B, Merrion Road;

Winner C v Winner D, UCD; G.Winner E v De La Salle Churchtown, Sydney Parade.

Semi-final:Q1 Winner F v Q2 (Winner A/B); Q3Winner (C/D) v Q4 (Winner E/G).

LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP

First Round (2.30):A. Terenure College v Gonzaga, Feb 3rd; B. Castleknock College v Cistercian Roscrea, Feb 2nd, North Kildare; C. St Gerard's School v Q.2, Feb 2nd, Stradbrook; D. King's Hospital/Newbridge (winners) v Q1, Feb 2nd, Lakelands; E. Blackrock College v Q4, Feb 2nd, Templeville Road; E. Clongowes Wood College v Q3, Feb 2nd, Coolmine RFC; F. St Mary's College v G. Kilkenny College, Feb 1st; H. Belvedere College v St Michael's College, Jan 30th, Donnybrook.

Second Round (3.0): I. Winner A v B, Feb 17th, Donnybrook; J. Winner C v D, Feb 15th, Donnybrook; K. Winner E v E, Feb 14th, Donnybrook; L. Winner F/G v H, Feb 10th, Donnybrook.

Semi-finals (3.0):M. Winner I v J, Mar 6th; N. Winner K v L, Mar 4th.

Final:O. Winner M v N, Mar 17th, RDS.

ULSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP

Second round, Jan 8th:Royal School Dungannon v Antrim Grammar; Carrick Grammar v Belfast High School; Portadown College v Wellington College; Portora Royal School v Larne Grammar School; Cambridge House School v Grosvenor Grammar School; Omagh Academy v Rainey Endowed School.

Third round, Jan 22nd:Winners Round 2 joined by: Regent House, Friends School, Down High School, Foyle Londonderry College, Limavady Grammar School, Dalriada, Banbridge Academy, Sullivan Upper, Bangor Grammar School.

Fourth round, Feb 5th:Winners round three joined by: Methodist College, BRA, RBAI, Ballymena Academy, Wallace High School, Royal School Armagh, Ballyclare High School and Campbell College.

Quarter-Finals:Feb 19th.

Semi-Finals:Feb 28th, Mar 2nd.

Final:Mar 17th.