Newbridge advance to quarter-finals
Leinster Schools Cup first round
Daire Walsh
It proved to be a memorable day for Kildare schools in the Leinster Senior Cup, after Newbridge College and Clongowes Wood College booked their respective posts in tomorrow’s quarter-final draw.
While second-half tries from Jordan Nolan and Donough Lawlor propelled Newbridge towards a 17-11 success over St Gerard’s, Bray at Templeville Road, a brace of John Maher scores ensured Clongowes had 13 points to spare (20-7) against Wesley College.
Hoping to go one better than near rivals Pres Bray – who fell to a six-point defeat at the hands of holders Blackrock on Monday – Gerard’s enjoyed a dream start.
Inside centre Ben Watson converted a 30-metre penalty to get the north Wicklow men up and running, before subsequently doubling his side’s lead in the 12th-minute. Newbridge’s challenge finally kicked into the gear on the half-hour mark – Donal Conroy completing a sweeping move on the right-flank.
Despite being a single point in arrears at the break (6-5), flanker Jordan Nolan touched down on the restart to edge Niall Smullen’s outfit into the ascendancy. James Kennedy’s stunning individual try kept Gerard’s in the reckoning, until Lawlor intervened to secure a safe passage into the last-eight for Newbridge.
Clongowes pulled off an accomplished win at Donnybrook. Supplementing a David Wilkinson penalty, Maher grounded to give the Clane side an 8-0 interval buffer.
Maher’s second of the contest dismissed any notion of a surprise result.
Meanwhile, Jack Barry’s late try helped Gonzaga College to squeeze past Jeremy Staunton’s Castleknock College by the skin of their teeth at Castle Avenue (26-24).