Rockwell College 28
Bandon Grammar 0
ROCKWELL’S DEFENCE OF the Munster Schools Senior Cup began successfully today at Clanwilliam Park with a well-earned 28-0 first-round victory against Bandon.
The opening exchanges were a nerve-ridden affair. The first four scrums resulted in penalties or were lost, both lineouts malfunctioned as jumpers were missed or throws were crooked, the first two penalties didn’t make touch and when one finally did it crossed the touchline behind the kicker.
It took 17 minutes before Rockwell got a footing in the game, a straight-forward penalty from fullback Paudie Feehan making it 3-0.
The set-piece decided the game, a simple move off a lineout saw Rockwell break up the middle. Exciting scrum-half Josh Pickering switched play to the blindside and it was a simple case of soft hands to send winger Paudie Leamy through in the corner.
Pickering box kicked excellently all afternoon and soon forced a lineout deep in Bandon territory. Bandon failed to control the ball and a move off the resulting scrum saw Brian Fitzpatrick cross for a try and make the score 13-0 at half time.
A resolute Bandon were hampered by ill-discipline in the second half. Greg Reidy saw yellow for collapsing a scrum and Dylan O’Callaghan shortly followed after getting involved in a bust-up.
From the resulting penalty, Rockwell kicked to the corner and a rolling maul off the lineout allowed Mickey Wilson make it 18-0, with Feehan adding the conversion.
Feehan kicked another penalty soon after and Mike Casey touched down with the game’s final play to make it a flattering 28-0 to the defending champions.
The draw for the second round of the Senior Cup provides Bandon with a chance to bounce back from this defeat against St. Munchin’s. A date, time and venue for that fixture will be announced next week.
Rockwell scorers:
Tries: Paudie Leamy, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mikey Wilson, Mike Casey
Conversions: Paudie Feehan (1)
Penalties: Paudie Feehan (2)
Rockwell: Paudie Feehan; Brian Fitzpatrick, Jamie Stone, Conor Cashman, Paudie Leamy; Jake Flannery, Josh Pickering; Niall Campion, Diarmuid Barron (captain), James Kendrick; David Shaw, Paddy Murchan; Mikey Wilson, Ben Murray, Mike Casey.
Replacements: Phillip Ryan, Luke Ashmore, Keith Melbourne, Ryan McLaren, Connall Fox, Daryl Egan, Gary Kavanagh, Chris Egan.
Bandon: Sean Hudson; Alex Moore, Victor Lovell, Luke Fleming, Ben Gur; Luke Kingston, Mark Bateman; Ashley Deane, Travis Coomey, Dylan O’Callaghan; Josh Landzaad, Jacob Lehane; Robin Stokes, Colin Deane, Gavin Coombes (captain).
Replacements: Billy Hayes, Ashley Deane, Jason Bradfield, James O’Dwyer, David Perkinson, Jan Donnelly, Evan Palmer, Ethan Twomey.
