Belvedere turn on the power to conquer Clongowes
Leinster Schools Junior Cup
Belvedere College 24
Clongowes Wood College 7
Daire Walsh, Donnybrook
Belvedere College advanced to the semi-final of the Leinster Schools Junior Cup with a convincing victory over Clongowes Wood College at Donnybrook yesterday.
Thanks to tries from Jonathan Ross, prop Jonathan Sargent and Daniel Hawkshaw, Belvo were in the driving seat as the interval approached.
However, following a converted score by abrasive centre Rory Morrin, Clongowes reduced their deficit to 12 points (19-7) by the midway point.
This offered the Clane school a new lease of life and No8 Hugh Wilkinson was just short of the whitewash after the restart.
Belvo didn’t panic, though, as Michael Rock touched down at the end of a sweeping move to offer the 17-times champions a safe passage to the last-four.
Scorers for Belvedere College: J Ross, J Sargent, D Hawkshaw, M Rock try each, D O’Grady 2 cons.
Scorers for Clongowes Wood College: R Morrin try, O Devitt con.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: D O’Grady; S Meaney, J Maher, D Hawkshaw, M Rock; F McCarrick, B Foy; J Sargent, D Lambe, S Hayes, J Flynn, C Doran, E Rutledge, A Hayden, J Ross.
Replacements: D O Longaigh, M Moore, C Russell, C Cope, C Daly, R Keeley, E Carroll, B Walsh.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: C Reilly; M Spillane, R Morrin, S Black, D Sholarin; C McNamee, O Devitt; M Roca, L Dowling, B D’Arcy, A Matthews, A Mannion, L Murray, J Carroll, H Wilkinson.
Replacements: R MacGabhann, T O’Donnell, J Luis, B Rovira, I Cruise-O’Brien, F Gavigan, G Coman, H McGrath, S Noone.
Referee: B Cuttriss (LRR).