Leinster Schools Junior Cup
Gonzaga’s power play too much for Newbridge
GONZAGA COLLEGE………………………………………………… 32
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE…………………………………………….. 00
A blistering first-half performance paved the way for Gonzaga College’s success yesterday at Donnybrook, where they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Schools Junior Cup with a comprehensive triumph over Newbridge College.
The Ranelagh school had broken the deadlock with an Eoin Barr penalty five minutes in.
An injury to Gonzaga hooker Eoin Barron delayed Newbridge’s restart from this score but, when the action did resume, a defensive mistake from the Kildare outfit enabled inside centre Max Neville to cross over.
Courtesy of tries from forwards duo Ian O’Grady and Eoin Buggy in the 19th and 22nd minutes, Gonzaga held a 22-0 advantage at the break.
Newbridge did apply some sustained pressure upon the resumption but they couldn’t find their way past the rigid opposition defence.
Barr’s penalty on 47 minutes effectively eliminated any hope of a fight-back from Newbridge, and Gonzaga’s display was rounded off by Brian O’Donnell’s five-pointer eight minutes from the end.
Scorers – Gonzaga College: M Neville, I O’Grady, E Buggy, B O’Donnell try each, E Barr 2 pens, 3 cons.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: G O’Neill; C Creedon, J Banahan, K Fitzgerald, E Conroy; L Maloney, J Doyle; L Kelly, C Lowen, T Grant; N Mullan, D Morrissey; R Scully, H O’Neill, B Howlett.
Replacements: C Prendergast for Scully (37), A May for Mullan (45), T Rynne for Kelly, T Doyle for Creedon (both 57), R Croft for Howlett (60).
GONZAGA COLLEGE: A Coman; C McCarthy, B O’Donnell, M Neville, D Inglis; E Barr, R Moran; M Meagher, E Barron, S Clear; C Fassbender, E Buggy; R Kidney, C Kirby O’Briain, I O’Grady.
Replacements: M Holly for Barron (h-t), C Goulding for Kirby O’Briain (35), M Gleeson for Fassbender (47), S Lynch for Moran (53), S Victory for Meagher, H Boggan for Neville, S Barry for McCarthy (all 56), H Barlow for Goulding (57), Goulding for Kidney (61).
Referee: B White (Leinster Branch).