Schools' Rugby/ Blackrock 46 Templeogue 3: It came as no surprise to see Blackrock College serve notice of their intent to defend their Leinster Schools Junior Cup crown against a spirited Templeogue College in the remaining first-round tie at Stradbrook yesterday.
This win, mostly fashioned on the free-running of their captain Seán Barron and fullback Jack O'Doherty, sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Clongowes Wood College.
These two boys accounted for four tries, two apiece, Barron's kicking bringing his personal tally to 21 points.
There were seven tries in all, scrumhalf Angus Lloyd, prop Cormac Maguire and flanker Conor McRory also getting in on the act as Templeogue relied on outhalf Evan Rogers for their 32nd-minute penalty and their forwards for a staunch last quarter where they recycled magnificently to keep the ball away from Blackrock.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: J O'Doherty; M O'Dowd, S Barron (capt), M Roche, P Conlon; C McEllin, A Lloyd; J Murphy, D Hogan, C Maguire, G Thornbury, P Dargan, R Marsh, C McCrory, A Kelly. Replacements: S Dunne for Lloyd, 40 mins; J O'Hehir for McEllin, 43 mins; P Beauchamp for Roche, C Duff for Thornbury, both 47 mins; J Pollard for Murphy, D Boyce for McCrory both 52 mins.
TEMPLEOGUE COLLEGE: C O'Gara; J Essuman, A Dodd, E Treacy, B Bently; E Rogers, D Dowling; R Byrne, D Reilly, T O'Reilly, Z Ali, F Cleary, S Gardner, S Patchell, O Manning. Replacements: G Sheridan for D Reilly, J Henderick for Manning, both 54 mins.
Leinster Schools Junior Cup: first round
At Stradbrook: Blackrock 46 (S Barron 2 tries, pen, 4 cons; J O'Doherty 2 tries; A Lloyd, C Maguire, C McCrory try each); Templeogue 3 (E Rogers pen).
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