Stapleton stars as Newbridge College retain league title
RUGBY: LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR LEAGUE DIVISION 1A FINAL
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE…………………………………………….. 20
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA………………………………. 19
By Daire Walsh
COLM Stapleton was the hero for Newbridge College at Donnybrook Stadium on Friday evening last, when his brace of closing-quarter tries helped his side to retain the Leinster Schools Senior League Division 1A title in a dramatic showpiece decider against Cistercian College Roscrea.
When the two teams met at the final stage of the same competition last December, Newbridge had all of 33 points (43-10) to spare over the Tipperary-based school. It was a much closer affair on this occasion, but even though Fineen Wycherley and Daniel Keane crossed over the Newbridge line in the dying stages of the contest, both scores were in response to similar efforts by Stapleton.
Cistercians (who were defeated by Clongowes Wood College in the 2011 Leinster Senior Cup Final) had impressed during their penultimate round demolition of Gonzaga College, and the Newbridge rearguard were fully aware of the attacking threat that they possessed.
However, Dave Brew’s charges are capable of causing problems for the very best of teams, and with four minutes gone on the clock, Mike Joyce was halted just shy of the line. Newbridge also had to hold firm in defence when Roscrea developed a promising maul on the right-flank 12 minutes in.
The south Kildare outfit had briefly lost the services of Number 8 Paddy Ryan at this stage owing to a blood injury (John Hamilton took his place in the back-row), but upon his re-introduction to the fray on 16 minutes, he made a telling impact.
After forging another offensive assault deep into enemy territory, Newbridge recycled the ball towards the left-flank. Skipper Jimmy O’Brien (a survivor from last year’s squad) produced a neat off-load into the path of Ryan, who drove over powerfully for a 19th minute five-pointer.
Colm Doyle was off-target from the tricky conversion that followed this opening score, and five minutes later another attempt at goal by the scrum-half drifted wide of the mark. Newbridge weren’t punished for these misses, though, as the decision of Ireland Schools out-half Tim Foley to opt for touch from two penalty opportunities back-fired for Roscrea.
Injury brought an end to the contribution of Newbridge full-back Ruairi Cleary two minutes before the interval, but in spite of this loss, the defending champions would have been satisfied with a 5-0 cushion heading into the second period.
Roscrea played with great determination after the restart, and it took them less than three minutes to restore parity to the tie. Their pack had initially been squeezed out on the right-wing, but when Foley picked out Joe Murphy with a neat pass, outside centre Alan Tynan dotted over the Newbridge line in comprehensive fashion.
Foley’s wayward bonus kick ensured that the sides remained on level terms, and given the close nature of Newbridge’s previous league encounters, a tension-filled concluding half-hour lay in store. Doyle had a chance to regain the ascendancy from a further place-kick 14 minutes into the half, and although he fell short once again, a knock-on by Foley led to a more routine attempt from close-in. This helped Doyle to finally open his own personal account, and Newbridge suddenly had the victory in their sights.
With such a narrow margin separating the teams, however, Newbridge could never afford to rest on their laurels. The confidence of the off-form Foley was beginning to drain, but Roscrea were still capable of producing a game-changing moment.
They certainly did threaten to swing the pendulum back in their favour, but instead it was Newbridge who took the initiative. After intercepting a pass by Tynan towards full-back Tim Carroll, Stapleton ran the length of the field for an unconverted runaway try.
This looked like being a pivotal moment in a tasty finale, and Newbridge were grateful for Stapleton’s intervention when Roscrea lock Wycherley powered over via a Keith Kavanagh pass one minute from the end of normal time.
Foley’s second conversion strike was successful, and Roscrea were now back in contention as a result. Newbridge responded in a style befitting of champions, though, as Stapleton bravely finished off a wonderful team move underneath the sticks.
Daniel Keane did bag a third try for a dogged Roscrea from the final attack of the action, but it wasn’t enough to spoil the celebrations for a jubilant Newbridge College.
Scorers – Newbridge College: Colm Stapleton 2 tries, Paddy Ryan try, Colm Doyle pen, con. Cistercian College Roscrea: Alan Tynan, Fineen Wycherley, Daniel Keane try each, Tim Foley 2 cons.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Ruairi Cleary; Daithi Murphy, Jake Howlett, Tim Murphy, Colm Stapleton; Jimmy O’Brien, Colm Doyle; Jordan Duggan, Connor Johnson, David Breen; Brian Larkin, Mike Joyce; Tom O’Neill, Rob Buckley, Paddy Ryan.
Replacements: John Hamilton for Ryan (8-16 & 56), Davy Culliton for Cleary (33), Robbie Culliton for O’Neill (64), Patrick Morrin for Breen (66), Mark Delaney for Stapleton (73).
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA: Tim Carroll; Rob Wharton, Alan Tynan, Joe Murphy, Daniel Keane; Tim Foley, Keith Kavanagh; Alvar Ferragut, Eoin Maher, Dylan Murphy; Fineen Wycherley, Simon Meagher; Peter Gavin, Matty Keane, Dan Travers.
Replacements: Michael Jordan for Ferragut (45), Brian Diffily for Meagher (50-55 & 66).
Referee: Niall Behan (Leinster Rugby Referees).