SCHOOLS RUGBY: LEINSTER JUNIOR LEAGUE DIVISION 1A FINAL
Chanders clinches dramatic league final win for Newbridge College
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE…………………………..26
GONZAGA COLLEGE………………………………24
By Daire Walsh
CAEL Chanders’ dramatic injury-time try helped Newbridge College to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a nail-biting Leinster Schools Junior League Division 1A final at Donnybrook last Wednesday afternoon.
Trailing 24-12 with just 10 minutes remaining in the contest, Newbridge looked set to fall short against an impressive Gonzaga College. Their challenge was reignited by skipper Kieran Kelly’s five-pointer, however, and full-back Mark Young converted the subsequent Chanders effort to complete a remarkable turnaround in south Dublin.
Searching for their second junior league title in just three seasons, Newbridge (17-15 semi-final winners over Castleknock College on 29 November) enjoyed the best possible start to this showpiece affair.
Just 70 seconds into the action, Lucas Berti Newman raced through a gap to set up midfield partner Calum Corcoran for a routine finish to the right of the posts. Young’s superb bonus strike increased the Newbridge lead to seven points, before Gonzaga settled with a try of their own.
Extensive phase play gave the Ranelagh outfit a firm footing inside the Newbridge ’22’, where space eventually opened up on the left-flank. Hooker Tim Cotter was on the spot to touch down for a hard-earned five-pointer, breaking Newbridge’s stubborn resistance in the process.
A wayward David Colbert place-kick kept their south Kildare counterparts in the ascendancy, but Gonzaga assumed control of the proceedings in the 18th-minute. They were starting to utilise the abrasive nature of their pack to telling effect and number eight Noah Maguire crashed over the Newbridge whitewash in devastating fashion.
This was supplemented by a simple Colbert two-pointer as Gonzaga gradually stamped their authority on the play. Following their perfect opening to the tie, Newbridge were now struggling to impose themselves as an attacking force.
Kelly carried forcefully towards the posts off a five-metre attacking scrum in the closing moments of the half, only for Gonzaga to secure a turnover penalty. This was as close as they came to issuing a riposte to the Metropolitan side’s second try and, as a result, they were forced to make do with a 12-7 interval deficit.
Although it wasn’t an insurmountable gap to peg back, their chances of success received a fresh set-back four minutes after the resumption. At the end of another extended attack, inside centre Hugh Goddard sprinted over the line for an unconverted score.
It was looking quite ominous for Newbridge, until they gave themselves a major boost on the stroke of 40 minutes. Newman was at the heart of their latest incision – he off-loaded purposefully to Young, who released winger Harry Farrell for a superb finish in the left-corner.
Despite keeping themselves in touch, a Gonzaga win still appeared to be the most likely outcome. When Hugo Neville grounded at the base of the upright – and Colbert provided the extras – they had one hand on the top-flight trophy.
Yet, Newbridge’s journey back from the brink was heralded by Kelly’s clinical converted try on 54 minutes. This placed them in good stead for the remaining minutes of a tension-filled final-quarter, when relentless attacking was met by committed defending.
Once the clock reached the 60-minute mark, it was a matter of who was going to blink first. Lock Chanders discovered a route towards the try-line and dotted down to restore parity in the nick of time.
There was enormous pressure on Young to find the target, but he effortlessly stroked between the posts to send the Newbridge faithful into raptures – a perfect tonic in advance of their Junior Cup clash with Temple Carrig School in January.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Mark Young; David Grant, Calum Corcoran, Lucas Berti Newman, Harry Farrell; Robert Dillon, Tadhg Brophy; Finn Mahon, Tom Waters, Harry Rigney; Denis Dowling, Cael Chanders; Patrick Stapleton, Ruairi Byrne, Kieran Kelly.
Replacements: Samuel Fitzgibbon for Waters (35), Patrick Gaire for Grant, John Collins for Dillon (both 55), Max Barry for Rigney (59).
GONZAGA COLLEGE: Hugo McLaughlin; Stephen Higgins, Hugo Neville, Hugh Goddard, Charlie Thomson; David Colbert, Charlie Breslin; Tomas Noone, Tim Cotter, George Morris; James McCarthy, Luke O’Callaghan; Darragh Geraghty, Paul Wilson, Noah Maguire.
Replacements: Toby Hammond for Cotter (46), Conor Hughes for Noone (54), Patrick O’Brien for Morris (60).
Referee: Robbie O’Flynn (Leinster Rugby Referees).