SCHOOLS RUGBY: LEINSTER JUNIOR CUP – FIRST ROUND
Newbridge swept aside by Gonzaga
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.
Three first-half tries from the Ranelagh school left Newbridge with a mountain to climb after the re-start, and although the efforts of Ben Swindlehurst’s side could not be faulted, they simply couldn’t halt the march of their south Dublin counterparts.
Newbridge were hoping to replicate their senior team by reaching the quarter-final of the competition, while for Gonzaga it was a matter of restoring pride following the school’s heavy defeat to Belvedere College in the Senior Cup a week beforehand.
Both sides displayed plenty of endeavour during the early exchanges, though Gonzaga were slightly more offensive in their play. Indeed, it was their out-half Eoin Barr who was presented with a glorious opportunity to open the scoring from a penalty with five minutes gone on the clock.
From a distance of 35-metres, Barr found the range to provide his side with an early platform to build on. An injury to Gonzaga hooker Eoin Barron delayed the restart arising from this score, but when the action resumed, the Newbridge line was breached for the very first time.
A defensive mistake enabled inside centre Max Neville to break through on the right-wing, and he proceeded to cross over unopposed for a morale-boosting five-pointer.
Barr’s subsequent conversion was wide of the mark, however, and even though there were ominous signs for Newbridge, there was still plenty of time for them to force their way back into the reckoning.
They started to make more of an impact in the Gonzaga half towards the end of the first-quarter, and thanks to strong work by their pack (which included captain Thomas Grant), they were awarded a couple of penalties in enemy territory.
Luke Maloney opted for touch from the first of these, before opting for the posts (on the advice of the coaching staff) on the latter occasion. Fly-half Maloney’s right-footed attempt was firmly-struck 15 minutes in, but much to the relief of Gonzaga, it ultimately drifted past the left-hand post.
Three points could have been invaluable to Newbridge at this juncture, but after forcing their opponents on the back-foot, Gonzaga added two tries in quick succession to significantly enhance their advantage. Number 8 Ian O’Grady drove over via excellent work by scrum-half Rob Moran on 19 minutes, and he then turned provider for lock Eoin Buggy’s score underneath the posts moments later.
A brace of Barr conversions on top of these contributions 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.
If Newbridge were to forge a dramatic comeback upon the resumption, they really needed to get their account up and running in the early stages of the half. 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 between the two teams. Gonzaga’s confidence levels were now sky-high, and eight minutes from the end, Brian O’Donnell joined his midfield partner, Neville, in crossing the whitewash.
Newbridge did have a number of set-piece opportunities late on, but instead opted for touch in an attempt to secure a consolation try. However, the Gonzaga rearguard continued to hold firm on a tough afternoon for Newbridge College.
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).