Roddy the difference
DAIRE WALSH – 06 FEBRUARY 2014 02:30 PM
GONZAGA COLLEGE 26 KING’S HOSPITAL 19
A brace of first-half tries from winger Roddy Fitzpatrick were of immense importance at Balbriggan RFC yesterday afternoon, as Gonzaga College held off a late surge from King’s Hospital to book their place in the quarter-final of the Beauchamp Solicitors Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
Like many of the opening round fixtures, the meeting of these two sides had suffered a number of postponements before finally getting the go-ahead.
But it was the favoured Gonzaga who eventually opened the scoring with just nine minutes on the clock.
It was a sharp pass from a scrum by Nick Peters that provided the platform for his half-back partner Ross McKeever to cross over on the right-hand side for a score that he also converted.
This seven-point salvo from the impressive No 10 proved to be a confidence-boosting moment for Gonzaga and they quickly supplemented their tally when Fitzpatrick embarked on a lung-bursting run on the left-flank, before touching down in devastating fashion underneath the posts for a second converted try.
Even at this relatively early stage in the contest, it looked like the boys in green were on course to saunter towards a commanding victory, but King’s Hospital threw a spanner into the works with a supremely-executed five-pointer of their own, courtesy of flanker Connor Spillane.
King’s were now firmly back in the reckoning, but despite displaying a great deal of tenacity and industry, they were hit with a real sucker punch on the stroke of half-time when outstanding left-wing Fitzpatrick once again evaded a series of challenges to record his second try of the contest.
Satisfied
McKeever couldn’t quite find his range on this occasion, but Gonzaga nevertheless had reason to be satisfied with a 19-5 interval cushion and when captain Andy Marks set up a 44th-minute try for his midfield compatriot Oscar O’Clerigh, the final outcome seemed inevitable.
The indomitable spirit of King’s Hospital was very much on display in the closing quarter, however, and they gave themselves a fighting chance of turning the tide in their direction with a fine finish on the right-hand side by bustling No 8 Matthew Bursey.
As a result of this score (which was converted by fly-half Daniel Courtney), there was a certain sense of panic in the Ranelagh school as the final whistle approached and when second-row Connor Kerr found a way through the opposition cover for his side’s third try on the stroke of 70 minutes, King’s Hospital had really thrown down the gauntlet to their esteemed counterparts.
Unfortunately, it proved to be a case of too little, too late for the Palmerstown boys and when Gonzaga secured possession from the final attack, their passage to the last-eight was finally sealed.
Scorers – Gonzaga College: R Fitzpatrick 2 tries, R McKeever 1 try, 3 cons, O O’Clerigh try. King’s Hospital: C Spillane, M Bursey, C Kerr try each, D Courtney 2 cons.
GONZAGA COLLEGE: B Goulding; K O’Connor, O O’Clerigh, A Marks, R Fitzpatrick; R McKeever, N Peters; E Byrne, G Rumley, R Barry; C Horan, T Mays; P Ryan, F Ryan, M McVey. Replacements: F Keane for P Ryan (39), D Meenan for Goulding (65), S Holly for Rumley (67).
KING’S HOSPITAL: R Lawless; L Morgan, R Olusa, W Potterton, D Byrne; D Courtney, R Sharkey; D Ables, R Charman, N Mipko; F Shilling, C Kerr; J Hogan, C Spillane, M Bursey.
Replacements: C Petit for Ables (h-t), C Murphy for Charman (55), Ables for Petit (65), M Brennan for Byrne (65).
Referee: C Dawson (Leinster Rugby).