Newbridge College 17
St. Mary’s 10
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE BOOKED their place in the Leinster Schools Cup semi-finals after a hard fought win over St Mary’s in Ashbourne today.
Newbridge settled first in a topsy-turvy first half, Joe D’Arcy nudging the Kildare side ahead with a 15th minute penalty.
St Mary’s hit back with Niall Curran’s 25th minute touchdown and crucially the score went unconverted and it proved the Rathmines school’s final spell in front.
Jonathan Phelan’s try late in the half was converted by D’Arcy and that appeared as though it would give Newbridge a clear advantage through the intermission.
However, Mary’s managed to squeeze a second try in on the stroke of half-time, Terry Kennedy’s unconverted score levelling the game at 10 points apiece at the break.
Chances were at a premium in the second half, but thanks to Matt O’Connor’s score midway through the second period Newbridge took command and D’Arcy’s third successful kick of the day left St Mary’s needing nothing less than a try which would not come.
St Andrew’s 47
Gonzaga 3
St Andrew’s College left Gonzaga stunned after running in seven tries in this afternoon’s quarter-final in Donnybrook.
Ryan Bradley stretched to claim the first score of a rout in the opening 40 minutes. Winger Jordan Lamour and Andrew Fogarty among the scorers that left ‘Zaga well out of reach at 33 – 3 by half-time.
With much of the hard work done, St Andrew’s did not require the same intensity after the break, but they would persist and Greg Jones claimed try number six before a miserable day was complete for the Ranelagh school.
Updated 11.15am February 14
The semi-final line-up was decided by open draw on Friday morning with Newbridge drawn against Blackrock on March 2 with St Andrews to face Clongowes two days later.
