Belvedere barrage blows battling Bray side away

Belvedere College produced two hat-trick heroes at Donnybrook yesterday when they ran in 10 tries against Presentation College.

Early substitute Donagh Fitzgerald and centre James Downey each got two of their side's six first-half tries, and contributed one apiece in the second half.

International schools player Donal Crotty added five conversions and Andrew Cullen completed the scoring to convert a try with the last kick of the match.

Presentation seemed well in command for the first 10 minutes, but a three-try blitz in five minutes by Belvedere ruined the Wicklow team's hopes.

The first try was scored by number eight Damien O'Donohoe who had an outstanding game. He combined well with outstanding scrumhalf Jamie McGee to give his backs all the room they needed.

O'Donohoe started the scoring spree with a try after 14 minutes when he broke from a line-out and Crotty was presented with an easy conversion.

Four kick-offs from Presentation allowed Belvedere to score two further tries almost immediately. Fitzgerald got over for his first try as did Downey three minutes later. Crotty converted the first in stylish fashion, but was just short at the second.

At 19-0 down Presentation fought back and a fine break from the right to the left by out-half Simon Fortune ended with winger Ronan Carroll going over in the corner. Presentation held out for the next 10 minutes but then conceded a try to Fitzgerald after strong forward pressure.

Again Presentation failed to make good use of kick-off ball and Belvedere got in for another try two minutes later when winger Oran D'Arcy finished off a fine three-quarter movement. Crotty took another conversion, and followed up by converting the next two tries both of which were contributed by Downey - one on the stroke of half-time and another two minutes into the second half.

Presentation had put up a battle but heads were beginning to bow and the second half belonged to Belvedere. They scored three more tries, from Fitzgerald, Cullen and centre Brian O'Malley.

The coup de grace came from Belvedere captain Andrew Cullen who converted O'Malley's try in injury time.

Scorers: Belvedere: O'Donohoe try, D Crotty 5 conversions, Fitzgerald 3 tries, Downey 3 tries, D'Arcy try, Cullen try and conversion, O'Malley try. Presentation Bray: R Carroll try.

Belvedere: R Norton; R Coakley, B O'Malley, J Downey, O D'Arcy; D Crotty, J McGee; C Sheehy, R Leydon, S Brophy, M Garvey, E O'Dwyer, M Kennedy, A Cullen (capt), D O'Donohoe. Replacements: Fitzgerald for Coakley; C Bannon for O'Dwyer; A Broe for Kennedy; B Devine for Crotty; A Fogarty for Sheehy; R Martin for Downey; B Carson for Garvey.

Presentation Bray: E Farrell; R Carroll, B Casey, N McCarthy, P Moynihan; S Fortune, G Kelly; B Murphy (capt), R O'Reilly, S Kennedy, S Flood, S Grimes, S Hickey, D Kelly, R Connolly. Replacements: P Hipple for O'Reilly; G McNab for Hickey; R Flynn for Connolly.

Referee: D Courtney (ARLB).