Captain pilots Pres to victory

Schools' Rugby Leinster Junior Cup semi-final: Presentation College - 20 St Mary's College - 10 St Mary's College looked to have quelled Pres Bray when Ray Crotty glided over for a try two minutes before the interval and the centre converted for 10-5. You would have been hard pressed to convince those present that it would be their final score.

Pres, who will contest the final on March 21st, had as their inspiration captain Jason Harris-Wright. The number eight crossed for a try in each half and he also put in some crunching hits. John Downey and Rory Breslin ensured the overwhelming favourites were bullied into submission up front. St Mary's also had a fine number eight in Shane Timmons but he never seemed to recover from an early knock.

Bray's tactics were effective. Outhalf Roddy Carroll demanded quick ball that was transferred to Harris-Wright, who made the hard yards. Crotty gave St Mary's the lead with a penalty after five minutes. Cue Harris-Wright's first surge to the line two minutes later.

Next came Crotty's well-taken try but early in the second half Pres went in front when Lorcan Duff crossed for their second try. Two Harris-Wright rumbles sucked in the St Mary's cover creating a four-man overlap. Carroll and Kian Grace supplied the passes. Peter Duggan added the conversion and a further penalty to stretch the lead to five points.

Harris-Wright capped a great performance with his second try four minutes from time when he drove over from a scrum.

Pres will take on the winners of Thursday's semi-final between Blackrock and CBC Monkstown.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 5 mins: R Crotty pen, 0-3; 7 mins: J Harris-Wright try, 5-3; 28 mins: Crotty try, 5-8; Crotty conv, 5-10; 38 mins: L Duff try, 10-10; P Duggan conv, 12-10; 49 mins: Duggan pen, 15-10; Harris-Wright try, 20-10.

PRESENTATION COLLEGE, BRAY: P Duggan; P Walsh, L Duff, K Grace, R Mooney; R Carroll, P Barry; R Coleman, S Richardson, A Feighery; R Breslin, A Dempsey; J Downey, D Snow, J Harris-Wright.

ST MARY'S COLLEGE: S Walsh; N Sheedy, R Crotty, P Early, E Lynagh; C Breen, D Beirne; M McKay, R Shaffrey, K Geraghty; B Shortt, D-O Mahon; P Gannon, N Croke, S Timmons. Replacements: K Hayden for Early, C McGlade for Breen (both 58 mins); P Barrett for McKay, S Culligan for Geraghty, B Heavey for Mahon, D Smith for Croke, B Hammond for Beirne (All 60 mins).

Referee: M Gargan (ARLB).