CUS...11 St Paul's College...3CUS made better use of the strong wind to carve out a far from easy Leinster Schools' Junior Cup section B first-round win over St Paul's College at Mounttemple yesterday.
The winners had first use of the elements and they wasted no time in moving to a 5-0 lead when scrumhalf Cal Dillon jinked his way over in the fourth minute.
Outhalf Niall McInerney, who was foot perfect throughout, struck a 25th-minute penalty to make it 8-0. Just before the break St Paul's were right back in it when their number 10 Barry Fennelly kicked a penalty. This looked as though it could have been the turning point given that St Paul's would have their half hour backed by a strengthening wind.
It was not to be, however, as CUS hooker Steffano Molle led by example in driving forward at every opportunity. Outhalf McInerney had the final say with a 38th-minute penalty.
CUS: R Buckley; C O'Reilly, C Doyle, G Cowzer, E Lyons; N McInerney, C Dillon; P Lynch, S Molle, E Hession, C Currie, A Beakey, C Hendrick, R McAuley, C Kane. Replacement: R O'Dwyer for Kane (35 mins).
St Paul's: P Cullen; F McMullen, S Dempsey, R Cullotty, K O'Gara; B Fennelly, R Dunning; C Dunne, C Kelly, A Farrell, P Fannon, D O'Brien, K Duffy, P McCauley, D Hegarty. Replacements: D O'Shea for Dunning (h-t). R Burke for Farrell (40 mins). S O'Dea for O'Gara, E McQuaile for Dempsey (both 53 mins).
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