RUGBY: LEINSTER SENIOR SCHOOLS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL
Murphy’s try secures return to league final for Newbridge College
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE…………………………………… 10
WESLEY COLLEGE…………………………………………. 06
By Daire Walsh
A first-half try from David Murphy proved to be the difference between the teams at Donnybrook last Wednesday afternoon (3 December), as defending champions Newbridge College progressed to the Leinster Senior Schools League decider with a narrow triumph over Wesley College.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession throughout the course of the contest, the Kildare outfit had to dig deep at times, and during nine minutes of second-half stoppage-time, Wesley did threaten to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. However, with the likes of Jake Howlett, Ruairi Cleary and Brian Larkin leading the way, Newbridge held firm to book their place in the upcoming showdown alongside Cistercian College Roscrea (final takes place on Friday 12 December in Donnybrook at 5pm).
Howlett, out-half Jimmy O’Brien and hooker Conor Johnson remain from the squad that secured the title at the expense of Roscrea last December, and after coming through a low-scoring home quarter-final against Kilkenny College, they were battle-hardened for this encounter on Donnybrook’s pristine all-weather surface.
Because of their link with the Old Wesley club, this was familiar terrain for the Ballinteer school, but thanks to some smart tactical kicking from scrum-half Colm Doyle, Newbridge were forcing them on the back-foot inside the opening quarter.
Indeed, as they worked their way effectively through a series of attacking phases, it seemed inevitable that they would cross the Wesley whitewash. The Dublin side’s rearguard kept their discipline, though, and despite showing plenty of promise, Newbridge were finding it difficult to bring the back-three of Cleary, Murphy and Colm Stapleton into the play.
Some intense tackling forced knock-ons from Newbridge, but equally, Wesley were also guilty of spilling the ball on occasions. Persistent pressure ultimately paid off for Newbridge in the 14th minute, and from inside the 22-metre-line off his reliable left-foot, Doyle made no mistake with his routine kick at the posts.
It was hoped that this would be a confidence-building score for Newbridge, but to their credit, Wesley produced a strong response. With their pack finally making a sizeable impression on the proceedings, Wesley forced a close-range penalty that was ideal for the right boot of fly-half Andrew Scanlon.
The place-kicker had displayed signs of nerves when he failed to reach touch from an earlier penalty, but from his opening effort off the kicking tee, he found the target with consummate ease to restore parity to the tie.
The restart did present Newbridge with an opportunity to build momentum inside the Wesley half, however, and within two minutes of Scanlon’s leveller, Newbridge had regained the ascendancy. Following an enticing move across the Wesley line, a neat off-load by O’Brien provided the platform for right-winger Murphy to jink inside for a five-pointer on the right-flank.
A superb touchline conversion from Doyle further enhanced Newbridge’s superiority, and with Wesley briefly losing powerful centre Adam Curry to injury, all the pieces were starting to fall into place for Dave Brew’s charges.
Yet, Wesley continued to persist with their challenge, and at the very end of the first period, a second penalty courtesy of the dependable Scanlon reduced Newbridge’s lead to four points (10-6). This left the outcome very much in the balance upon the resumption, when one lapse in concentration could prove fatal for either side.
As it transpired, the second-half action was rather scrappy in nature, with try-scoring opportunities coming at a premium. Howlett did threaten to break over midway through the period via a lung-bursting run, but he was eventually held up just shy of the line.
This opening preceded a third strike at goal by Scanlon from beyond the ten-metre line, and although the energetic No 10’s attempt was firmly struck, it dropped short of the target (much to the relief of Newbridge).
Nevertheless, Wesley did keep Newbridge on their toes moving into the final-quarter, and a strong work ethic was required from the visiting team as they aimed to negotiate their way past the finishing line.
They appeared to have weathered the storm efficiently with a decent spell in enemy territory, only for Wesley to forge a final assault for a game-changing try. Replacements Jack Maybury and Tom Walsh almost created an overlap on the right-hand side, and it took some forceful play by the Newbridge defence to ensure that they progressed at the end of a scoreless half.
Scorers – Newbridge College: David Murphy try, Colm Doyle pen, con. Wesley College: Andrew Scanlon 2 pens.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Ruairi Cleary; David Murphy, Jake Howlett, Tim Murphy, Colm Stapleton; Jimmy O’Brien, Colm Doyle; Jordan Duggan, Conor Johnson, David Breen; Brian Larkin, Mike Joyce; Tom O’Neill, Robert Buckley, Dylan Walker.
Replacements: Patrick Ryan for Walker (48), Oisin Larkin for Breen (63).
WESLEY COLLEGE: Matthew Strong; Daniel Gilmer, David Poff, Adam Curry, Mark Crimmins; Andrew Scanlon, Jack Corrigan; Adam Chandler, Matthew Guest, Padraig Cullen; Leon Daly, Shane Carmody; Daniel Paul, Ben Whitehead, Stephen Dalby.
Replacements: Jack Maybury for Curry (29-35 & 45), Tom Walsh for Gilmer (48), Campbell Classon for Whitehead (63), Luke Corish for Carmody (63).
Referee: Niall Behan (Leinster Rugby Referees).