JOINT DEFENDING CUP HOLDERS NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE BOW OUT AT SEMI FINAL STAGE
BANK OF IRELAND LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL
BLACKROCK COLLEGE 41
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE 5
By Daire Walsh
There was heartache for Newbridge College at Energia Park in Donnybrook last Thursday afternoon as they suffered a comprehensive defeat to Blackrock College at the semi-final stage of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
Joint-winners of the competition in 2020 along with the Clane-based Clongowes Wood College, Newbridge were looking to claim another big scalp following an impressive quarter-final win over Belvedere College. However, ‘Rock had recorded an astonishing 48-0 success at the expense of Terenure College in their previous game and further underlined their credentials with a superb attacking display that sets up a forthcoming decider against Gonzaga College.
Although Todd Lawlor was passed fit after his early withdrawal in the Belvedere match, precocious fly-half Paddy Taylor was unfortunately ruled out with an injury sustained in the same contest. Tom Bohan assumed the number 10 shirt in his absence, but it proved to be a difficult opening for ‘Bridge in their latest last-four appearance.
After developing an attacking overlap down the right-flank, winger Charlie Molony raced over to claim a deadlock-breaking try for ‘Rock in the sixth-minute.
Out-half Zach Quirke supplied the extras in confident style and it wasn’t long before the rampant Williamstown side increased their advantage. The south Dubliners once again created space inside the opposition half and following quick offloads by Eoghan Walsh and Ruben Moloney, inside centre Luke Kritzinger dived over for an unconverted try just shy of the 10-minute mark.
It was anticipated that additional scores would follow and a routine Quirke penalty created even further daylight between the teams.
Newbridge – coached by past pupil and former professional rugby star Johne Murphy – looked set to open their account when ‘Rock lost Paddy McCarthy and Liam Molony to yellow cards in the second-quarter, but they couldn’t capitalise during a sustained period of attacking play.
Blackrock were restored to their full compliment before the first half had elapsed and there was enough time for Inigo Cruise-O’Brien to drive over and propel his side towards a convincing 22-0 interval cushion.
If Newbridge were to have any chance of forging a dramatic comeback, then they needed to draw first blood on the resumption. Instead, it was ‘Rock extended their tally when powerful lock Tom Brigg rounded off a line-out maul move just two minutes after the restart.
While this effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt, Newbridge were determined to leave some kind of imprint on the proceedings. Like they had done in the latter stages of the opening period, they established territory deep inside the ‘Rock half.
Their persistence paid off on this occasion as – from a quick penalty close to the ‘Rock posts on 46 minutes – Lawlor dived over in clinical style. This unconverted effort only presented ‘Bridge with a brief respite, however, as their Metropolitan counterparts immediately fired back with another five-pointer courtesy of replacement Conor Tonge.
Even though their spot in the forthcoming showpiece had long been assured, ‘Rock were hell-bent on having the final say and Cruise-O’Brien’s second try made sure they did just that. While it was a disappointing end to an encouraging campaign for Newbridge, the school’s Junior Cup triumph last October suggests that the depth of talent is there to make a big splash in 2023 and beyond.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: Ruben Moloney; Charlie Molony, Hugh Cooney, Luke Kritzinger, Eoghan Walsh; Zach Quirke, Oliver Coffey; Max Holmes, Gus McCarthy, Paddy McCarthy; Tom Brigg, Alex Mullan; Liam Molony, Inigo Cruise-O’Brien, Kevin Jackson.
Replacements: Maxim Aschenbrenner for C Molony (21), Conor Tonge for Mullan (30), Andreas Andersson for Brigg (30-35), Andersson for P McCarthy (45), Jack Angulo for L Molony (50), Liam Molony for Jackson (52), Mikey Yarr for G McCarthy, Tom O’Riordan for L Molony, Will Fitzgerald for Coffey (all 58).
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Callum Bolton; Todd Lawlor, John Collins, Tom Waters, Ciaran Mangan; Tom Bohan, Tadhg Brophy; Finn Mahon, Mark Masterson, Patrick Stapleton; Max Barry, Shane Treacy; Kieran Kelly, Ronan McGroary, Sam Fitzgibbon.
Replacements: Denis Downing for Mahon, Billy Bohan for Stapleton (both h-t), Sam Watson for Fitzgibbon (45), Oliver Udell for Masterson (50), Shane Davitt for Barry (55), Adam Larkin Smithers for Bolton (56), Michael Collins for Waters (60-67), Diarmuid Enright for Bohan (68).
Referee: Padraic Reidy (Leinster Rugby Referees).