Skerries prevail

Skerries CC 10 Newpark Comprehensive 5: Skerries showed great strength and discipline to squeeze past Newpark in this tight first-round tie in Sutton yesterday.

A try from Philip Matthews gave Skerries the lead just before the half hour, the combative number eight polishing off a powerful drive by the aggressive pack.

That try was superbly converted by full back Owen Keane, and Keane kicked another penalty from in front of the posts just before the break to give his side a a 10-0 half-time lead.

Newpark were finding it hard to convert possession, in good areas, into points and when prop Richard Court finally broke through the Skerries defence for a try, time had all but expired.

Skerries thus move on to round two and if players like Matthews, Seán Dempsey, John Whitney and dominant flankers Joe Glennon and Darragh Coffey repeat yesterday's performances then the northside Dublin school need fear nobody.

Newpark, meanwhile, can take pride in a spirited performance, which saw them battling till the end, and in team captain David O'Rourke they look to have a player who could have a big future in the game at the centre position.

SCORERS: Skerries - P Matthews try, O Keane pen, con. Newpark Comprehensive - R Court try.

SKERRIES CC: O Keane; R O'Connor, E O'Mahony, J Whitney, B O'Connor; S Dempsey, T Hanratty; S Halpin, G Sambrooks, G Duffy, J Glennon, D Coffey, C Pearse, D Crowell, P Matthews.

NEWPARK COMPREHENSIVE: P Tormey; C Kelly, T Hill, D O'Rourke, L Matthews; M Colquhan, R Weinmann; R Court, M Jacobson, J Ritchie, D O'Farrell, N Hennessy, A Watchorn, R Thomas, D Doran.

Referee: P Dorman (ARLB)