Intimidating Blackrock power past the holders

Schools Rugby Leinster Senior Cup/Blackrock College 17 Belvedere College 6: The expected epic encounter never materialised. Maybe that was down to the first half snowstorm or the Belvedere backline being knocked out of kilter by the loss last week of outhalf Martin Dufficy to a collapsed lung. Nevertheless, Blackrock produced an intimidating display of power rugby to set up their first final meeting with St Michael's on St Patrick's Day.

The pre-match analysis focused on whether Blackrock would gain parity up front. Belvedere barely got out of their 22 in the second half and turned to spoiling on the deck to repel the opposition's ferocious momentum.

For the umpteenth time this season, several incidents of cynical play at the ruck failed to result in a single yellow card.

Blackrock dominated possession but were denied the killer score until the 66th minute due to an unbending defence.

The tone of the contest was set after just four minutes. Belvedere number eight Jonathan Slattery ran a ball back from inside his own half only to be slammed backwards by a crunching double hit from opposite number Paul Ryan and hooker David O'Brien.

However, the defending champions did grasp the early initiative, with Eoin O'Malley kicking two penalties in the first 20 minutes.

Scrumhalf and captain Paul O'Donohoe was in devastating form, especially in the tackle as several times he flipped backrow forwards to force the penalty.

The influence of Clontarf RFC Kiwi coach Phil Werahiko was evident in Belvedere's at-close-quarters style.

The game turned in the second quarter with an opportunistic Blackrock try from scrumhalf David Moore. Belvedere had temporarily lost fullback Colin Murphy to the blood bin so winger Johnny McDevitt went to 15 and Michael Keating came in on the wing. A mix up in communication presented a gap on the blindside from an attacking scrum, which Moore exploited to race in from 15 yards.

Aidan Wynne added a difficult conversion into the wind.

Belvedere winger David Mongan provided some damage limitation before the break with an excellent tackle on Luke Fitzgerald as the fullback attempted to utilise a two-man overlap. It meant Blackrock only held a four point cushion at the break thanks to a Wynne penalty after Conor McGinn was penalised for hands in the ruck.

Wynne was given two more kicks at goal in the second-half after similar indiscretions, as Belvedere desperately denied Blackrock quick ball at the breakdown, but both sailed left.

It is a remarkable achievement that a pack led by Irish under-19s prop Cian Healy was so utterly dominated. When Belvedere resorted to the maul for yardage, Blackrock ground them down with Ryan and secondrow Brian Cawley outstanding.

Eventually the breakthrough came. After a succession of phases, outhalf Darragh Fitzgerald received a silver service pass from replacement scrumhalf Conor Crowley only to find no support outside. He cut back inside, spun out of a tackle, and to his surprise the try line opened up in front of him.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 9 mins: E O'Malley pen, 0-3; 19: E O'Malley pen, 0-6; 26: D Moore try, 5-6; A Wynne con, 7-6; 38: A Wynne pen, 10-6. Half-time. 65: D Fitzpatrick try, 15-6; A Wynne con, 17-6.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: L Fitzgerald; N Morris, J Lee, A Wynne, V Artemiev; D Fitzpatrick, D Moore; S Cahill, D O'Brien, W Kavanagh; D Dowling, B Cawley; D O'Connor, A Cullen, P Ryan (capt). Replacements: R Carroll for S Cahill (51 mins), C Crowley for D Moore (54 mins), J Ronan for J Lee (61 mins), D Byrne for B Cawley, S Foyle for D O'Connor (both 66 mins), JS Byrne for D Fitzpatrick (67 mins).

BELVEDERE COLLEGE: C Murphy; D Mongan, C Colclough, D Gibbons, J McDevitt; E O'Malley, P O'Donohoe (capt); C Healy, P Devitt, P McCabe; C McGinn, C Pendred; E O'Carroll, D Synnott, J Slattery. Replacements: M Keating for C Murphy (25-33 mins), S Breen for D Gibbons (48 mins), D White for E O'Carroll, N Lovic for P McCabe (both 68 mins).

Referee: D Courtney (ARLB).