Blackrock College SCT 2017
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RELENTLESS ‘ROCK ACCOUNT FOR KING’S HOSPITAL January 30, 2017 Blackrock College cruised into the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final at Donnybrook on Monday. This is a big, bruising Blackrock pack, a fact soon exemplified by prop Joe Roche’s skittling of defenders through the middle. The ball was put on a plate for centre Gavin Jones to feed fullback John Gallagher for the first try in the third minute. Straight away, the other prop Giuseppe Coyne broke from deep and executed a two-on-one for scrum-half Patrick Patterson to have the pace to go around Ian West. Out-half James Moriarty converted for 12-0 in the seventh minute. King’s Hos’ pressed the reset button and came charging forward through prop Sean Goodburn and flanker Sam Wrafter. They earned a lineout deep inside the 22 where they were sacked and overturned. They weathered the next storm of runners for out-half Fionn O’Loughlin to put them back in position. They just couldn’t hold onto the ball. Patterson took off on a lightening surge that was stopped short by O’Loughlin for Goodburn to turn the ball over. It was a temporary respite as ‘Rock came straight and fast for impressive centre Tom Roche to ground the ball in the left corner for 19-0 in the 19th minute. From the restart, they gave away a penalty which centre Edward Mahood kicked. The difference was in the cohesion of Blackrock. Once the gain line was broken, the runners flooded through in support. The big forwards were not slow to turn the screw and lock Andrew Murphy dived over for Moriarty to make it 24-3 on the half-hour. Through full-back West, KH let it be known there was plenty of fight left in them. Hos’ came out re-energised in defence as centres Mahood and Ross Hackett led the defensive line in applying pressure to carriers. The game was breaking up, KH captain Wrafter bursting clear of a maul and scrum-half Scott le Roux almost giving wing Clinton Wokocha a glimpse of gold. The pace and footwork of O’Loughlin created havoc in behind and his kick was just about tamed by the ‘Rock back-three. They were coming more into it – Osebor Evbodaghe was strong in contact – as Blackrock’s indiscipline at the breakdown tested the patience of referee James Fitzgerald. When Hos’ lost number eight David Boles to the sin-bin, it was the signal for ‘Rock to reassert through fine tries by number eight Cian Reilly, left wing David Heavey and captain Reilly right at the end.
David Heavey; James Moriarty, Patrick Patterson; Giuseppe Coyne, Stephen McLoughlin, Joe Byrne, Andrew Murphy, Charlie Ryan, John Fairley, Alan Francis, Cian Reilly (capt). Replacements: Peter O’Reilly for Gallagher 7 mins; Michael McGagh for Fairley 42 mins; Thomas Clarkson for Byrne, Mark Phelan for Maher both 44 mins; Richard Fahy for Patterson 60 mins; James McShane for McLoughlin, Carl Delaney for Coyne, James Burke for Ryan all 63 mins. FOUR-TRY WIN SENDS BLACKROCK INTO SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS February 14, 2017
Blackrock College made a statement of intent in making the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final at Donnybrook on Monday. The Williamstown school put their maul into gear almost immediately, not once, but twice. The first time they moved the ball, Terenure out-half Mark Fabian stepped in to intercept and wing Luke Murnaghan took off down the right. When the recycle came, centre Dominic Henry-Hayes poked the ball through on the floor to cause Patrick Patterson to come to the rescue. ‘Rock prop Giuseppe Coyne picked up a loose ball to set up a counter attack, number eight Cian Reilly pounding the yards up the left and fly-half Peter O’Reilly setting wing Tom Maher away for the opening try converted by O’Reilly in the seventh minute. A charge by tight-head Thomas Clarkson from the restart triggered a lightening raid in which left wing David Heavey was called back from Ross Deegan’s forward pass. ‘Nure almost struck back when Mark Fabian’s show-and-go was undone by a pass not going to hand. It was Patterson who swooped to conquer prop Adam Tuite, forcing a penalty which O’Reilly could not convert. Terenure were finding holes in the middle, Henry-Hayes the latest to cut through without enough support. It was being played at lightning speed, Patterson putting Tom Roche through a hole until the full-back lost his footing. There was space on the right and Roche gave the final pass for Maher to touchdown again for 12-0 in the 21st minute. Terenure were just about hanging on. They needed to strike back. They found ground from Luke Murnaghan’s flying field in the air and moved with skill for fly-half Mark Fabian to connect with Adam La Grue, who’s inside pass was finished by left wing Zach Vaughan. Fabian converted for 12-7 in the 29th minute. They continued to play their way out of trouble through the hand, paying the price when a ball hit the floor. It took the intervenBlackrock College 41 The King’s Hospital 3 tion of ‘Nure captain Adam Melia to prevent a try just before the At Donnybrook – BLACKROCK COLLEGE 41 (C Reilly 2 tries; break. Blackrock came out quick, Roche’s offload carrying too P Patterson, J Gallagher, T Roche, A Murphy, D Heavey try each; much heat for Maher to claim his hat-trick. They were taken back J Moriarty 3 cons); THE KING’S HOSPITAL 3 (E Mahood pen). for a penalty which O’Reilly could not make. When Terenure did Blackrock: John Gallagher; Tom Maher, Tom Roche, Gavin Jones, not lift the siege, the constant stream of runners bore down and
Patterson nipped to the posts, Reilly to make it 19-7 in the 43rd minute. The speed and line of running of La Grue was sensational and Fabian kicked in behind when there was nothing else on. They were patient and waited for full-back Sam Dardis to split the cover with his footwork and David Heavey to tackle Murnaghan into touch. ‘Nure passed up certain points for a scrum, but were thwarted by their inaccuracy. The bigger ‘Rock boys rumbled in the maul and pressured for a penalty which O’Reilly struck for 22-7 on the hour. There was nearly a quick response until Andrew Murphy turned the ball over to relieve pressure. ‘Rock finished on the front-foot, their maul making it close for replacement Mark Phelan to squeeze in at the right corner. Blackrock College 27 Terenure College 7 At Donnybrook – BLACKROCK COLLEGE 27 (T Maher 2 tries; P Patterson, M Phelan try each; P O’Reilly pen, 2 cons); TERENURE COLLEGE 7 (Z Vaughan try; M Fabian con). Blackrock: Tom Roche; Tom Maher, James Moriarty, Ross Deegan, David Heavey; Peter O’Reilly, Patrick Patterson; Giuseppe Coyne, Stephen McLoughlin, Thomas Clarkson, Andrew Murphy, Charlie Ryan, John Fairley, Alan Francis, Cian Reilly (capt). Replacements: Gavin Jones for Deegan 21 mins; Michael McGagh for Fairley, Sean Molony for McLoughlin 55 mins; Matthew Carroll for Ryan 56 mins; Carl Delaney for Coyne, Andrew Savage for Clarkson both 66 mins; Richard Fahy for Patterson and Mark Phelan for Maher both 67 mins. BLACKROCK COLLEGE TO FACE BELVEDERE IN SENIOR CUP FINAL March 7, 2017 Read the match report from the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final between Blackrock College and Gonzaga College. Blackrock will join Belvedere for the Bank of Ireland Leinster Senior Cup final at the RDS Arena on St Patrick’s Day after an impressive defeat of gutsy Gonzaga at Donnybrook on Tuesday. The Williamstown school made a number of late changes to their side, most notably the introduction of centre Liam Turner for the first time in the competition. Gonzaga looked the more settled from the outset, their backs and forwards getting on the ball before full-back David Lynch found touch just outside the 22. They stole Blackrock’s first lineout and won their own from Conor Gleeson’s throw, the hooker steaming around in support to draw a penalty for a high tackle. Outhalf Michael O’Kennedy nailed it for 3-0 in the eighth minute. It didn’t take long for the response to come about. Scrum-half Patrick Patterson was the trigger for ‘Rock’s varied attack that ended with second row John Fairley plunging to the line. Outhalf Peter O’Reilly converted for 7-3 in the 11th minute. They
were almost away again when left wing David Heavey ran out of room down the left and, soon, prop Joe Byrne’s long pass failed to find its’ target, although there was compensation from a penalty which O’Reilly struck. The boys in green went straight to O’Kennedy for good gains just outside the reach of the flank forwards. They kept control well enough to earn another penalty which O’Kennedy pulled slightly to the left. That was okay with them. They reloaded for centre Brian O’Donnell to test the defence. Then, Patterson was binned for illegal work at the breakdown before Andrew Murphy rescued a perilous situation in the shadow of his posts. Blackrock played out the seven minutes with fourteen without ever looking like leaking a try. On his return, Patterson took two steps to his right and hit Liam Turner with a switch ball which the centre took all the way for O’Reilly to make it 17-3 right on half-time. The second period exploded into life, Gonzaga centre Brian O’Donnell cutting it up on the left, a turnover enabling Patterson to rip a hole in their defence. The trend was for the game to take place mainly in ‘Zaga’s half, O’Kennedy getting them out of trouble with a quick spin and clearance. The weight of pressure was getting heavier, centre James Moriarty bouncing off tackles to create the space to the right which full-back Tom Roche used to his advantage for the third try in the 43rd minute. Gonzaga paid no attention as left wing Sean Galvin popped up in the middle to sprint upfield and feed full-back David Lynch for a stunning try in the 48th minute. The game was quickly put out of reach on the back of loose-head Giuseppe Coyne’s rumble, Patterson’s flashing pass and replacement Ross Deegan’s wheels for the fourth try converted by O’Reilly. Once again, Patterson was the catalyst behind a well-orchestrated attack for full-back Roche’s easy finish for his second. The Sandrord Road school had the ingenuity to create an opening for right wing Hugh Twomey and scrum-half James Kenny followed up to put flanker Ian O’Grady close. It all came to nothing as Blackrock completed the mission to set up what looks like a guaranteed thriller against the holders. Blackrock College 34 Gonzaga College 8
Jones for Heavey both 64 mins. BELVEDERE COLLEGE ARE 2017 SENIOR CUP CHAMPIONS! March 17, 2017
Belvedere College were taken all the way to the last play by Blackrock College to complete back-to-back Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup titles for the third time at the RDS Arena on St Patrick’s Day. Perhaps the adrenaline rush played a part in Belvedere’s David Hawkshaw putting the kick-off into touch on the full. The first real thrust came from their centre Peter Maher to put them in the right area. From there, left wing Jordan Wilkes found a hole only to lose control of the ball as he went to ground. Hawkshaw’s handling and football nous created space into which the out-half tumbled a kick. On Blackrock’s first continuous possession, they kept the ball superbly to make inroads until Max Kearney’s presence over the ball caused a side entry. The release of pressure was compounded by a penalty for bringing down a maul. Just when Belvedere looked to activate their maul, the throw was wayward in difficult conditions. The wind was playing havoc with the hookers’ darts and a second ball went out on the full, from Belvo’ nine Paraic Cagney this time. Their kicking game was beginning to have an influence, never more so than when Hawkshaw grubbered the ball through. Full-back Tom Roche could not tame the awkward bounce and Maher was on the spot to touchdown for Hugh O’Sullivan to make it 7-0 in their 23rd minute. This was extended when Blackrock hooker Stephen McLoughlin was whistled in a borderline call at the ruck for O’Sullivan to stitch on three points in the 27th minute. Blackrock needed air to breathe life into the challenge. They got it from a mix-up in the backfield for a scrum. Number eight Cian Reilly and Roche made ground until the ball was forced forward through gritty defence to leave the champions 10-0 ahead at the break. It was a long way back from there given the difficulties underfoot. They got what they wanted when centre Liam Turner forced a penalty out of Wilkes on the floor and out-half Peter O’Reilly slotted the points in the 38th minute. At Donnybrook – BLACKROCK COLLEGE 34 (T Roche 2 tries; Blackrock captain Reilly came hard around the corner to draw J Fairley, L Turner, R Deegan try each; P O’Reilly pen, 3 cons); an infringement out of prop Jake Robinson. It took Hawkshaw’s GONZAGA COLLEGE 8 (D Lynch try; M O’Kennedy pen). rip to take the ball away from John Fairley and centre Maher Blackrock: Tom Roche; Tom Maher, Liam Turner, James Moriarty, countered up the left before the ball was spilled. ‘Rock scrum-half David Heavey; Peter O’Reilly, Patrick Patterson; Giuseppe Coyne, Patrick Patterson’s clever kick from the wheeled scrum retuned Stephen McLoughlin, Joe Byrne, John Fairley, Andrew Murphy, the pressure again. It was turning into a heavy slog. That man Michael McGagh, Alan Francis, Cian Reilly (capt). Hawkshaw ripped the ball free of Roche. The pick-and-go was put Replacements: Thomas Clarkson for Byrne ht; Ross Deegan for into operation and ‘Rock loose-head Giuseppe Coyne dragged Turner 38 mins; Sean Molony for McLoughlin 42 mins; Carl Del- hooker Anthony McDonnell into touch. Scrum-half Cagney’s aney for Coyne, James Burke for Francis both 60 mins; Richard devilish kick forced Roche into a mistake compounded into a Fahy for Patterson 61 mins; Matthew Carroll for Fairley, Gavin penalty. Hawkshaw drilled the ball to the corner. Their maul
looked menacing. It was brought to ground and the close-in drive was foiled by resolute defence by ‘Rock. The northsiders were masterful in recycling the ball to test the patience of the Rock boys, who eventually coughed up a penalty. Centre Turner was almost onto a stray pass from Cagney. The ball was beginning to stick until the majestic Kearney ruined their momentum with a perfectly poached egg. The lineout went on the wind to the alert Andrew Murphy, requiring O’Sullivan to tidy up at the back and relieve the pressure. The carriers came thundering forward, Murphy, Coyne and Thomas Clarkson taking play right to the line where a fumble was forced. The intensity was red-hot as Blackrock came powering forward where, incredibly, Hawkshaw ripped the ball away for the third time. They couldn’t go on this way. There had to be territory to go with the tenacity. Flanker Conor Doran gave them go-forward and Hawkshaw’s kick through squeezed a knock-on out of Turner just on ‘Rock’s 22-metre line. The endeavour couldn’t be any greater. Unfortunately, the ball was not co-operating as full-back Roche completed a superb turnover. He backed this up with a strong burst through the middle where flanker Doran drove into contact to cause a penalty turnover. The clock was the enemy of Blackrock and it would take something magical to break down a special defence. There was time for one last play. Blackrock kept the ball with consummate professionalism, driving relentlessly to the line where Clarkson was heroically held up by Kearney to signal the end of the game. Belvedere College 10 Blackrock College 3 At The RDS – BELVEDERE COLLEGE 10 (P Maher try; H O’Sullivan pen, con; BLACKROCK COLLEGE 3 (P O’Reilly pen). Belvedere: Hugh O’Sullivan; Mark Donnelly, Peter Maher, Cian Walsh, Jordan Wilkes; David Hawkshaw, Paraic Cagney; Cillian Molloy, Anthony McDonnell, Jake Robinson, Grellan Murray, Oran O’Brien, Conor Doran, Max Kearney (capt), Ruadhan Byron Replacements: Sam Barry for Wilkes 45 mins; Conor Byrne for McDonnell, David Hill for O’Brien both 62 mins; Joseph Haughey for Molloy 64 mins. Blackrock: Tom Roche; Tom Maher, Liam Turner, James Moriarty, David Heavey; Peter O’Reilly, Patrick Patterson; Giuseppe Coyne, Stephen McLoughlin, Joe Byrne, Andrew Murphy, Charlie Ryan, John Fairley, Alan Francis, Cian Reilly (capt) Replacements: Ross Deegan for Maher ht; Michael McGagh for Fairley 46 mins; Sean Molony for McLoughlin, Thomas Clarkson for Byrne, James Burke for Ryan all 50 mins; Carl Delaney for Coyne 64 mins; Richie Fahy for Patterson 66 mins. Referee: Paul Haycock, Leinster Branch
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Blackrock SCT 17 Tom Roche Tom Maher Liam Turner James Moriarty David Heavey Peter O’Reilly Patrick Patterson Giuseppe Coyne Stephen McLoughlin Joe Byrne Andrew Murphy Charlie Ryan John Fairley Alan Francis Cian Reilly (capt) Ross Deegan Michael McGagh Sean Molony Thomas Clarkson James Burke Carl Delaney Richie Fahy
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