Junior Cup First Round
Tough afternoon for Newbridge
GONZAGA COLLEGE………………………………………………… 32
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE…………………………………………….. 00
BY DAIRE WALSH
There was disappointment for Newbridge College in Donnybrook last Thursday afternoon, when a powerful display by Gonzaga College brought an end to their Leinster Schools’ Junior Cup campaign at the opening hurdle.
Both sides displayed plenty of endeavour during the early exchanges, though Gonzaga were slightly more offensive in their play. A penalty with five minutes gone on the clock, from a distance of 35-metres, gave Eoin Barr the change to give his side with an early platform to build on.
A defensive mistake enabled inside centre Max Neville to break through the Newbridge defence on the right-wing, and he proceeded to cross over unopposed for an unconverted five-pointer.
There was still plenty of time for Newbridge to force their way back into the reckoning, and they started to make more of an impact in the Gonzaga half towards the end of the first-quarter.
Gonzaga however, added two tries in quick succession to significantly enhance their advantage. A brace of Barr conversions meant that Gonzaga held a 22-0 lead, and strong defensive work was required from Newbridge to keep their deficit at this level in time for the interval.
To their credit, on the resumption Newbridge developed some promising attacking phases inside the Gonzaga 22-metre-line, but despite holding a sizeable cushion, the Sandford Road boys maintained their concentration in defence.
Maloney, Jack Doyle and full-back Gregory O’Neill all probed effectively for Newbridge, but a second Barr penalty on 47 minutes created an even bigger divide. Eight minutes from the end, Brian O’Donnell joined his midfield partner, Neville, in crossing the whitewash.
Newbridge never gave up but the Gonzaga rearguard continued to hold firm on a tough afternoon for Newbridge College.
GONZAGA COLLEGE: Andrew Coman; Calum McCarthy, Brian O’Donnell, Max Neville, Daniel Inglis; Eoin Barr, Rob Moran; Matt Meagher, Eoin Barron, Simon Clear; Caoilim Fassbender, Eoin Buggy; Robbie Kidney, Colm Kirby O’Briain, Ian O’Grady. Replacements: Mikey Holly for Barron (h-t), Charlie Goulding for Kirby O’Briain (35), Michael Gleeson for Fassbender (47), Sam Lynch for Moran (53), Sam Victory for Meagher, Hugo Boggan for Neville, Sean Barry for McCarthy (all 56), Harry Barlow for Goulding (57), Goulding for Kidney (61).
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Gregory O’Neill; Con Creedon, Jack Banahan, Karmon Fitzgerald, Eimhin Conroy; Luke Maloney, Jack Doyle; Larry Kelly, Conor Lowen, Thomas Grant; Nathan Mullan, Dylan Morrissey; Robert Scully, Harry O’Neill, Ben Howlett. Replacements: Cian Prendergast for Scully (37), Andrew May for Mullan (45), Thomas Rynne for Kelly, Tom Doyle for Creedon (both 57), Robert Croft for Howlett (60).
REFEREE: Berney White (Leinster Rugby Referees).