Clongowes ease to win over St Gerard’s
RUGBY: Clongowes Wood College’s quest to reclaim the Powerade Leinster Schools Senior Cup began in fine fashion yesterday at Templeville Road, where two first-half tries from right-wing Cian O’Donoghue helped them to see off the challenge of St Gerard’s of Bray, on a 30-6 scoreline.
The north Wicklow side had edged into an early 6-0 lead courtesy of two penalties by scrum-half David Baker, but Clongowes rallied effectively, as an 18th-minute try from diminutive full-back Ben Osborne, swiftly added to by a brace of terrific individual scores by the pacy O’Donoghue, fully exerted their
superiority by the end of the half.
With a 17-6 cushion in the second period, Clongowes pushed on for further scores, and eventually added to tally with a 54th-minute penalty from out-half Fergal Cleary.
This gave them some much needed breathing space in the final quarter, and thanks to five-pointers from German U18 international Sebastian Fromm and replacement Cillian Burke in the latter stages, the Clane men were able to ease into the next phase.
Scorers for Clongowes: C O’Donoghue 2 tries, B Osborne, S Fromm, C Burke try each, F Cleary pen, con.
Scorers for St Gerard’s: D Baker 2 pens.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: B Osborne; C O’Donoghue, W Lappin, S Fromm, A Jeffares; F Cleary, P Maher; A Dudeney, D Donnellan, D Garty, C Gleeson, R Collins, W Connors, S Kealan, S McVeigh. Replacements: C Burke for Osborne (60), C Ganley for Dudeney (63), J Kennedy for Collins (65), C Mulcahy for Jeffares (67), J Pim for Kealan (70).
ST GERARD’S, BRAY: M Prendergast; S Kingston, C Callan, C Jordan, A Simmonds; T Whittle, D Baker; N Buckley, J Ryan, T Kenna, H Conan, C Kenny, B Fitzpatrick, D King, F Smith. Replacements: S Tyrrell for Smith (52), M Gallagher for Simmonds (65), R O’Caoimh for Whittle (70).
Referee: G Conway (Leinster Branch).
Daire Walsh