LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP FIRST ROUND
ST GERARD’S, BRAY 25
WESLEY COLLEGE 16
A dominant second half display helped St Gerard’s, Bray to defeat Wesley College in the opening round of the Leinster Schools Junior in Greystones.
At the midway point in this absorbing contest, the north Wicklow school trailed Wesley by six points (11-5). However, with the centre pairing of Callan O’Reilly and Cormac Long exerting a strong influence, Gerard’s ultimately advanced to the last-eight.
Gerard’s had hit the ground running at Dr Hickey Park, as Oliver Newsome crossed over after picking up possession at the back of a five-metre scrum. Wesley were not unduly affected by the concession of this early score, though, and they subsequently levelled matters in the ninth-minute.
From a powerful line-out maul on the right-flank, Oisin Halpin dotted down in fine style. A brace of successful penalties by fly-half Sean Verdon forced them into the ascendancy, but Gerard’s narrowed the gap after the restart through a Harry Dunne three-pointer.
Indeed, after hooker Luke Long finished off a prolonged attack, a try apiece from O’Reilly and Cormac Long opened up a 14-point gap. Wesley skipper Chris Gilmer touched down in stoppage-time, but this proved to be a mere consolation for the Ballinteer side.
Scorers – St Gerard’s, Bray: O Newsome, L Long, C Long, C O’Reilly try each, H Dunne pen, con. Wesley College: O Spain, C Gilmer try each, S Verdon 2 pens.
ST GERARD’S, BRAY – S Lynch; S Younger, C O’Reilly, C Long, A Gordon; S Fitzpatrick, H Dunne; C McCaul, L Long, D McCaul; M Whelehan, T O’Connor; F Happonen, C Kavanagh, O Newsome.
REPS – M Fennelly, C Desmond, B Lambert Owen, S Kearney, J Cullen, M Peters, C Gallagher, A Whitten.
WESLEY COLLEGE – T Durham; F Ojewale, A Galbraith, C Bailey, B Cullen; S Verdon, J Glennon; C Gilmer, H Grant, A Ogunyemi; M Collins, S Whitehead; D Campbell, A Walker, O Spain.
REPS – C Humm, K Momoh, J Kasselman, K Arheit, A Colbert, D Copeland, C Mackay, J Fish.
REF – S Owens (LRR).