RUGBY LEINSTER SCHOOLS' JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Newbridge College 14 St Mary's College 12A BRAVE St Mary's comeback just fell short in their exciting defeat to Newbridge in this quarter-final at Anglesea Road yesterday.

It looked like a predictable contest as Newbridge built a 14-0 lead. Captain Jimmy O’Brien used decoys to hold the St Mary’s midfield to blast around the outside of the defence for the first try, converted by wing, Gavin Burke, for a 7-0 lead in the 12th minute.

Just as St Mary’s tried to counter on halfway, the ball broke loose. Newbridge centre Rob Buckley grabbed it and set off for the corner.

The support of O’Brien kept the ball alive and centre Jake Howlett used his power to twist to the whitewash. Burke made the improbable touchline conversion on the half-time whistle.

St Mary’s refused to compromise. Wing Neil Walsh appeared off his wing only to be held up over the line. From a scrum, Mark Fogarty peeled left to send fullback Terry Kennedy knifing to the line. Game on.

St Mary’s countered from deep for Walsh to career down the touchline for a wonderful try. Kennedy added the conversion to make it a two-point deficit that kept the crowd enthralled right to the end.

NEWBRIDGE: R Cleary; G Burke, J Howlett, R Buckley, J Healy; J O'Brien (capt), M Delaney; M Doyle, T O'Neill, O Larkin, P Condon, P Morrin, O Kelly, L Menton, C Callan. Replacements: N Pearson-Buffoni for Doyle, D Delahunt for Condon (both 43 mins).

ST MARY'S: T Kennedy; D O'Connor, N Hughes, D Matthews (capt), N Walsh; D Boyle, M Fogarty; M McCormack, M Hoey, D Flood, G Kenny, N Curran, M Kinneen, B Maher, J Farrell. Replacements: S McCahill for O'Connor (55 mins); D Galvin for Kinneen (60 mins).

Referee: G Conway (Leinster Branch).