Rugby

Blackrock get off to flying start against Clongowes

Teams in Leinster Schools Junior Cup first round worthy of final

Liam Turner of Blackrock College is tackled by Clongowes Wood players Ben O’Shea and John Durkan in their Leinster Schools Junior Cup first round game at Donnybrook. Photograph: Donall Farmer.
Liam Turner of Blackrock College is tackled by Clongowes Wood players Ben O’Shea and John Durkan in their Leinster Schools Junior Cup first round game at Donnybrook. Photograph: Donall Farmer.
Fri Feb 06 2015 - 18:10

Blackrock College 23
Clongowes Wood 15

The shame of the open draw system is that this first-round clash could so easily have made for a fitting Leinster Schools Junior Cup final.

Blackrock made a quick start and were content to build a lead in threes rather than look for seven-points.

Clongowes moved to the front from a penalty by Ben O’Shea after the centre had made two significant bursts.

From then on, 'Rock were able to find the space by putting the ball through the hands, their right winger blazing around the outside to find captain Liam Turner on his inside for a try that was converted by outhalf Joey Caputo.

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Killer blow

The son of Leinster scrum coach Marco was able to take chances as they came his way to add penalties in the 17th, 24th and 27th minutes.

The real killer blow came from flanker Michael McGagh’s reach for the whitewash and Caputo’s conversion to make it 23-3 at the break.

Clongowes had the measure of Blackrock in close. It was when the game moved beyond there that they struggled. They had to score next to have any chance.

It was credit to the Purple and Whites that the kept the eventual winners away from the scoreboard and tested their fringe defence with heavy driving which produced tries from lock Daniel Beggs and replacement David O'Connor.

BLACKROCK: N Brady; A Thompson, L Turner (capt), R Hally-Doody, D Colgan; J Caputo, L O'Reilly; G Coyne, S Molony, T Clarkson, T Godson-Treacy, J Stapleton, J Burke, M McGagh, L McMahon. Replacements: H Donnelly for O'Reilly (39 mins), J Tarrant for Caputo (42 mins), R Gallagher for Clarkson (49 mins), M Grogan for Godson-Treacy (51 mins), T Maher for Brady (56 mins), G Jones for Hally-Doody (61 mins).
CLONGOWES WOOD: C Kennelly; A Mullan, J Durkan, B O'Shea, A Langan; J Reilly, C Daly; D Slattery, B Sheehan, J Timmins, D Beggs, T Farrington, L El Sabai (capt), S Ojejinmi, M Martin. Replacements: J Onyejekwe for Langan (39 mins), M Colivet for Mullan (49 mins), C Gallen for Daly, S Donovan for Reilly (both 53 mins), D O'Connor Sheehan (56 mins).
Referee: D Philips (Leinster Branch).

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The Counter Ruck

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