Whoever said that rugby without tries is like a musical without the music should have been at Templeville Road yesterday. There was nothing humdrum about Mount Temple's penalty goal victory over Newpark in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup section A semi-final.
These well matched sides sought to play the game at a hectic pace, sucking in opponents with relentless driving through the middle before launching attacks out wide. Newpark's sturdy out-half David Doran became a ninth forward for his side as he relished the call to pound out vital yardage.
Mount Temple had the edge at the line-out where Newpark were denied the services of Marcus Stewart who suffered a broken rib in the previous round. He was introduced as a last throw of the dice, straight after Mount Temple right wing Mark Adams had kicked the only penalty of the game in the 50th minute. Newpark pressed forward but Mount Temple defended staunchly to the end.
Doran was reduced to an unlikely dropped goal attempt from the left and an even more ambitious penalty kick from 45 metres. For Mount Temple, drives from Ian Graydon and Joey Kellett came up inches short.
Mount Temple: P Delaney; M Adams, A Lorden, D Handcock, S Cairns; J Moore, D Thunder; J Kellett, G Mercer, K Ellis, I Graydon, J Miller, N O'Carroll, J Fitzachary, G Kelly.
Newpark: A Roche; B McDaid, A Casey, D Readman, R Fennell; D Doran, D Griffin; G Weston, G Ryan, K Law, L Jenkinson, F Day, D Hanafin, D Lundberg, S Murphy. Replacement: M Stewart for Lundberg (51 mins).
Referee: J Counihan.
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