Gonzaga stun ‘Rock with second-half tries
Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup (R1)
Gonzaga College 22
Blackrock College 21
Daire Walsh
Gonzaga College stunned Blackrock College in the first round of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup yesterday.
Despite finding themselves in arrears for large stretches of yesterday’s contest, last year’s beaten finalists produced a grandstand finish to seal a spot in the last eight.
Following a brace of Tom Gavigan penalties, Tom Henderson’s converted try propelled ‘Rock towards a 16-3 interval advantage. However, Simon Wilson reignited the Gonzaga challenge with a superb try on the restart.
‘Rock looked set to prevail when John Francis dotted down on the hour, but subsequent tries by Hugh Lynn and Wilson ensured Gonzaga snatched victory.
Scorers for Gonzaga College: S Wilson 2 tries, H Lynn try, H Colbert pen, 2 cons.
Scorers for Blackrock College: T Henderson, JF Campbell try each, T Gavigan 3 pens, con.
GONZAGA COLLEGE: J MacNulty; H Lynn, B Barron, J Browne, S Wilson; H Colbert, E O’Callaghan; G Morris, G Kenny, R Shaw; S Carroll, S O’Connell; A Henry, T Cullen, H Fitzgerald.
Replacements: D Colbert for Browne (47), M Colgan for O’Callaghan (50), N Maguire for Morris (60).
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: S Murray; T Henderson, S Small, B Brownlee, JF Campbell; T Gavigan, M Cullen; S Barron, C O’Carroll, H O’Malley; M Morrissey, A Simpson; J Culhane, M Wood, A Rowan.
Replacements: J Kenny for Henderson, R McGuire for O’Malley (both 47), D Walsh for Rowan (60), J Byrne for Simpson (64), T Quinn for Cullen, P McCarthy for O’Carroll (both 68), M Moloney for Gavigan, L Heylin for Barron (both 69).
Referee: P Haycock (LRR).