SEMI FINAL SPOT AGAINST BLACKROCK COLLEGE FOR NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE
LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE 17
BELVEDERE COLLEGE 10
By Daire Walsh
Newbridge College held off a spirited fightback from Belvedere College at Energia Park on Tuesday afternoon to book their place in the semi-final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
Joint-winners of the competition in 2020 along with fellow Kildare outfit Clongowes Wood College – their proposed final meeting was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic – Newbridge stormed into a 17-0 lead with just 15 minutes gone on the clock. Key figures for the school on their march to the Leinster Junior Cup as recently as last October, Todd Lawlor and Paddy Taylor were key to them establishing this level of supremacy over the north Dubliners.
The fourth year duo were subsequently withdrawn through injury, however, and this opened the door for Belvo to force their way back into the reckoning. Yet despite the concession of tries to Senan Coakley and Alex Usanov, Newbridge ultimately progressed into the penultimate rounds.
Coached by former Munster and Leicester back Johne Murphy – himself a past pupil of the school – ‘Bridge took all of 17 seconds to break the deadlock in this contest. Following an initial punt forward from scrum-half Tadhg Brophy, Lawlor booted the ball along the turf before sprinting past Jed Tormey and Michael McGrath to sensationally touch down beyond the whitewash.
Taylor superbly converted from the sideline and the fly-half also added a penalty on seven minutes to move Newbridge into a double figure lead. Although Lawlor’s departure from the scenes in the 14th-minute could have been a seismic blow, his replacement Calum Corcoran stepped up to the plate in spectacular fashion.
Following a fly-kick close to the right-wing from the impressive Brophy, the ball bounced favourably for Corcoran to dot down. Taylor continued his successful streak with another magnificent bonus strike but, after picking up an injury himself, his involvement in the game had also reached an end just past the first-quarter mark.
Although it had been a nightmare start to the proceedings for Belvo, it was always anticipated that Phil Werahiko’s charges would enjoy a purple patch. With Newbridge still attempting to readjust in the absence of Taylor, the Metropolitans developed a series of attacking phases and openside flanker Coakley drove over the line for a 25th-minute try.
Tormey couldn’t supply the extras to this score and while the Belvo challenge was beginning to rise, Newbridge had more than enough reason to be content with a 17-5 interval cushion.
Whereas the opening period was played amidst blistering sunshine, rain descended upon the Donnybrook venue for long stretches of the second half. While this obviously had no effect on the 4G surface, it did lead to a lot of handling errors from Belvo which, in turn, helped to release the pressure on the Newbridge defence.
That said, Murphy’s troops were still forced to dig deep as the 12-time champions possessed a potent set-piece threat. Moments after winning a penalty when their opponents looked set to pounce for a maul try, ‘Bridge skipper Kieran Kelly got underneath Michael Carmody to prevent an almost certain score.
Belvo finally doubled their tally with four minutes of normal time remaining, with Usanov using all his strength to power over the line for an unconverted effort. There was one last opportunity for the Great Denmark Street school to possibly force an equaliser, but after they were penalised for yet another set-piece indiscretion, the Newbridge faithful were able to rejoice.
Newbridge College have been drawn against Blackrock College in the semi-final with Gonzaga College taking on St Mary’s College. Blackrock defeated Terenure College 48-0 in their Quarter Final. Fixture details to be confirmed.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Callum Bolton; Todd Lawlor, John Collins, Tom Waters, Ciarán Mangan; Paddy Taylor, Tadhg Brophy; Finn Mahon, Mark Masterson, Paddy Stapleton; Max Barry, Shane Treacy; Kieran Kelly, Ronan McGroary, Sam Fitzgibbon.
Replacements: Calum Corcoran for Lawlor (14), Tom Bohan for Taylor (21), Denis Downing for Mahon, Billy Bohan for Stapleton (both 44), Sam Watson for McGroary (55), Oliver Udell for Masterson (60), Ruairi Byrne for Kelly, Shane Davitt for Barry (both 68).
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: Senan Hogan; Patrick O’Grady, Andre Ryan, Jed Tormey, Daniel O’Leary; Cameron Daly, Michael McGrath; Eoin McDermott, David Dowse, Karl Brennan; Eddie Rees, Alan Spicer; Woody Kinsella, Senan Coakley, Alex Usanov.
Replacements: Michael Carmody for Hogan (20 mins); Ewan Smith for Coakley (h-t), Conor Bateman for McDermott (41), Louis Gaughan for Rees, Conor O’Driscoll for McGrath (both 47).
REFEREE: Andrew Cole (Leinster Rugby Referees).