Crosbie ensures Miller's crossing

RUGBY LEINSTER SCHOOLS' CUP St Gerard's School 22 Kong's Hospital 17:THE VALUE of a flawless place-kicker can never be priced. Without Stevie Crosbie St Gerard's would have lost, plain and simple, because in big lock Josh Hinde, King's Hospital had a man who couldn't miss.

But this was no kicking duel. Far from it. Pockmarked by handling errors on both sides that have surely added a few grey hairs to St Gerard’s coach Eric Miller’s head, they somehow survived the onslaught of Luke Satchwell’s valiant team.

Maybe it was the experience gleaned from last season’s run to the last four, where they now return to face the winners of this afternoon’s quarter-final between Terenure and Roscrea.

St Gerard’s were blessed to make it to the interval on level terms. On three occasions King’s Hospital forced their way over the try-line only for the positioning of referee Brian MacNeice to deny him a clear view. Having taken a great line, a powerful run by inside centre Potterton looked a certain try from our media perch.

St Gerard’s were justifiably billed as favourites considering the return of two key players, Crosbie and number eight Jack Conan, from the 2010 campaign.

However, these two were not the outstanding performers on display. The King’s Hospital pack produced ferocious and sustained levels of aggression, led by captain Satchwell, and groundhog flanker Brian du Toit, whose brother Peter is an Ireland under-20s scrumhalf.

The massive frame of Hinde, when not shifting bodies, was planting penalties and conversions from all angles, while they dismantled the St Gerard’s scrum and picked apart their lineout almost at will.

It allowed them keep it tight and muscle over for two tries. Alas, when forced to attack wide, unforced errors killed them.

Crosbie’s boot put St Gerard’s ahead but Hinde levelled it before matters got really interesting.

From rare ball off the top of the lineout, thrown by flanker Stephen Hackett-Delaney, Crosbie threw a delicious skip pass to Jett Desmond, who put winger Simon Smith over near the corner flag. Crosbie nailed the conversion.

The King’s Hospital response made everyone sit up and take notice. Satchwell, Hinde, du Toit and Hinde again all carried with menace and the lock seemingly squeezed over, only for a penalty to be awarded instead. It could have been for any number of infringements but unlike other recent schools games, there were no yellow cards.

Their forward power did eventually yield a try after a cleverly-worked lineout saw Satchwell arise with the ball and a cool-as-you-like shoulder-shrugging celebration. Hinde banged over the conversion from the left touchline to make it 10-10.

Next, Potterton made it over the try-line twice but both touchdowns were deemed to be held up before Crosbie’s punt got St Gerard’s to the sanctuary of Miller’s half-time huddle.

A failure, perceived or actual, by defenders to release the ball-carrier allowed Crosbie edge St Gerard’s back in front early in the second half as the contest sparked to life once more.

A perfectly-executed lineout to Cian Foley resulted in the Kings Hospital maul carrying Satchwell over once again and Hinde repeated the conversion trick from wide out.

Crosbie’s third penalty reduced the margin to a single point and with Conan finally building up a head of steam and Desmond a constant threat from midfield, St Gerard’s began to turn the tide.

It became a matter of who wanted it the most. Conan went through two tacklers to set up a platform for Crosbie to catapult Robert Martin into the King’s Hospital defence. The excellent Potterton nearly cut him in half but the recycle saw the Irish schools outhalf slip into the pocket and drop a goal to make it 19-17 to St Gerard’s with nine minutes to play.

St Gerard’s had finally discovered their mojo as prop David Murray lifted the siege near the finish before Desmond carried deep into the opposing 22.

The result was a penalty that allowed Crosbie make it five from five and a five-point cushion.

Then they hung on for what was, ultimately, a deserved victory. But The King’s Hospital team will always think back to those crucial minutes before half-time and ask ‘what if?’.

Scoring sequence – 4 mins: S Crosbie pen, 3-0; 8: J Hinde pen, 3-3; 18: S Smith try, 8-3; S Crosbie con, 10-3; 31: L Satchwell try, 10-8; J Hinde con, 10-10. Half-time. 38: S Crosbie pen, 13-10; 41: L Satchwell try, 13-15; J Hinde con, 13-17; 45: S Crosbie pen, 16-17; 61: S Crosbie drop gl, 19-17; 69: S Crosbie pen, 22-17.

ST GERARD'S SCHOOL: D Simmonds; C Shiel, J Desmond, R Martin, S Smith; S Crosbie (capt), C O'Rourke; S King, O O'Neill, D Murray; H Wojnar, J Prendergast; S Hackett-Delaney, D Symes, J Conan. Replacements: R O'Brien for H Wojnar (49 mins), K Carroll for O O'Neill (68 mins).

THE KING'S HOSPITAL: I Fitzpatrick; E Delaney, T Quigley, D Potterton, D Butler; D Murphy, A Moore; C Fair-Brennan, D McDonough, E Lawler; C Foley, J Hinde; G Reynolds, B du Toit, L Satchwell (capt). Replacements: B Heather for G Reynolds (26 mins), W Nolan for D Butler (49 mins).

Referee: B MacNeice.