Leinster Senior Cup (Schools)/Blackrock College 28 High School 6: It's probably a question of perspective in defining the performance of the pre-tournament favourites Blackrock College at Donnybrook yesterday.
Is a stunning two-try salvo in injury-time at the end of the match a barometer of the team's ability or would it be more apposite to pass judgment on a lack of direction over 70 minutes? Perhaps a composite of the two scenarios might offer a glimpse at Blackrock credentials.
When they were good, and there were half a dozen occasions during their Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round match at Donnybrook, they were excellent, producing some sumptuous rugby but these were little oases in a desert of mediocrity. Time and again Blackrock fumbled possession, lacking the patience to work their opportunities.
They tended to overplay the ball up front and then shovel out slow ball that largely negated the pace and footballing ability of their backs. In full back Luke Fitzgerald, Blackrock had the game's most accomplished performer; strong, quick and direct with balance and timing, he caused consternation in High School's defence on the few occasions he was put in space. His try was a superb solo effort.
The coaching team may also reflect on the fact Blackrock scored three tries - one in injury-time at the end of the first half, two in time added on in the second - through wings Niall Morris and Vasya Artemiev and Fitzgerald. The equation is a simple one. Mark Lynch had a superb game up front but otherwise some of the winners' work up front was decidedly middling.
It would be churlish to downgrade High School's effort, as they produced a gutsy performance with no little technical nous. The excellence of their catch and drive was copybook in precision. Patrick Earls and Ciarán Condren provided the ball and the pack made huge yardage.
The body positions at ruck-time were excellent as was their driving in contact. Tighthead prop Rory Forsythe carried the ball brilliantly while number eight Cillian Suiter led by example in a fine forward effort.
Behind the scrum, centre Alan Thompson not only contributed two penalties but also excelled with and without the ball. He produced one particularly jarring tackle on Blackrock flanker Zac Farvivarz that prevented a certain try.
The problem for High School was they conceded 19 points in time added on between both halves. They started aggressively but a turnover led to the concession of a penalty that Blackrock centre James Power posted from 15 metres and though High School responded, being penalised for two crooked throws in succession scuppered the momentum that had seen them forced their way into the opponents' 22.
They looked in further trouble when Fitzgerald accelerated through a gap inside his own 22, racing 40 metres before releasing Francis Moran for a run-in, but play was called back for a forward pass. Power tagged on a second penalty and with the interval approaching it looked like High School's tenacity had limited the damage to six points.
However, in the 36th minute the Blackrock pack took play into the High School 22, quick ball and Fitzgerald's ability to beat a tackler allowed Morris to canter over unopposed. Power added the extra points. Thompson's two penalties closed the gap to 13-6 with nine minutes remaining. High School dared to dream.
Power's third penalty effectively decided the outcome but Blackrock's victory was embellished in injury-time when first Artemiev and then Fitzgerald crossed for exquisitely crafted tries with Power converting the latter.
High School can be proud of their performance while Blackrock realise there is much work to do ahead of their clash with St Michael's College in the quarter-final.
SCORING SEQUENCE. 7 mins: Power penalty, 3-0; 18: Power penalty, 6-0; 35 (+1): Morris try, Power conversion, 13-0. Half-time: 13-0. 39: Thompson penalty, 13-3; 59: Thompson penalty, 13-6; 64: Power penalty, 16-6; 71: Artemiev try, 21-6; 75: Fitzgerald try, Power conversion, 28-6.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: L Fitzgerald; N Morris, F Moran, J Power, V Artemiev; I Madigan, B Johnston; E Baker, E Mullen, E O'Cuilleanain, P Ryan, D Hegarty, Z Farvivarz, D O'Reilly (capt), M Lynch. Replacements: D O'Connor for Lynch (17-18 mins), D O'Connor for Ryan (62 mins), D Moore for Johnston (69 mins), E Fleck for Madigan (71 mins), J Coleman for Morris (71 mins), B Cawley for Hegarty (74 mins).
THE HIGH SCHOOL: O Wardell; B Phelan, N McDarby (capt), A Thompson, P O' Shea; R Johnson, S Walsh; E Long, R Traynor, R Forsythe, P Earls, C Condren, K Cabena, C Suiter, J Anglim. Replacements: L Fernandez-Brennan for Wardell (47-49 mins), A Laone for Anglim (52 mins), Fernandez-Brennan for O'Shea (64 mins), C Hale for Long (68 mins), D Flower for Phelan (74 mins).
Referee: T Redmond (Leinster).
