This was a clearcut, if unspectacular, first-round win by Clongowes Wood College as they easily handled the abrasive efforts of an over-matched De la Salle, Churchtown, in the Leinster Schools' Section B Senior Cup at Donnybrook yesterday.

De la Salle tore into their vaunted opponents from the beginning and were unlucky to suffer an early setback when scrumhalf David Connellan rose from a forest of bodies to claim a ninth-minute try for Clongowes which gave the winners a 10-3 lead after Connellan and Dermot Cullen had swopped early penalties.

Cullen shot his second goal from under the post before Clongowes full back Gareth Hayes and centre David Sharkey went over for tries in the 13th and 31st minutes respectively. Cullen's third penalty kept Salle in the hunt at half-time as they trailed 22-9.

However, tries from hooker Christian Klinkenburg and Hayes put an end to any thoughts of an upset. Late tries from De la Salle pair, Derek McNamara and Keith Taite were fair reward for an admirable effort from the outgunned Churchtown boys, even if the last try of the game came from Clongowes right wing Paddy Berkery which was converted by centre Robert Jenkinson.

Clongowes Wood: G Hayes; P Berkery, D Sharkey, R Jenkinson, J O'Reilly; B Culliton, D Connellan; D Campbell, C Klinkenburg, J Moran, B Carlos, R Sharkey, D Brides, R O'Toole, R Farrell. Replacements - A Houlihane for R Sharkey 41 mins, S Dunne for Campbell 43 mins, D Kavanagh for O'Reilly , J Flanagan for D Sharkey both 65 mins, G Murphy for Klinkenburg, P Malone for Brides, S Conway for Connellan all 68 mins.

De La Salle, Churchtown: A O'Brien; N Hallahan, D McNamara, P Young, T Byrne; D Cullen, M Dormer; K Taite, P Maguire, A Byron, D O'Reilly, B Corish, D Morgan, R Gallagher, B Byrne. Replacements - K Costello for O'Reilly 57 mins, P O'Dowd for Hallahan 59 mins.

Referee: A Baird (ARLB).