Sport

Newbridge roll out tries as double remains in sight

Schools Rugby Leinster Junior Cup -  Newbridge College 36 Belvedere College 17: LEINSTER LEAGUE winners Newbridge College are…

Wed Mar 09 2011 - 00:00

Schools Rugby Leinster Junior Cup -  Newbridge College 36 Belvedere College 17:LEINSTER LEAGUE winners Newbridge College are serious about completing the double as they steamrolled Belvedere in the Powerade Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final at Lakelands Park yesterday.

Newbridge took full advantage of the downfield wind to rack up four first-half tries by outhalf Mark Sutton, wing Joe Darcy, flanker Cormac Nugent and fullback Chris Healy against a solitary penalty from Belvedere centre Seán McCullagh to lead 24-3 at the interval.

It would have taken a miracle for Belvedere to have come back from that deficit and they were kept at bay by Newbridge’s expert timing in the tackle, Nugent a torment for turnover ball.

The pick-and-go was also activated to keep the ball away from Belvedere’s dangerous runners – McCullagh, fullback Conor Clifford and powerful secondrow Paddy Foley.

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When Foley got on the end of a sound lineout maul to drive low to the line, McCullagh converted in the 55th minute.

It was fair reward for their dedication to playing an attacking wide game.

Immediately, the winners returned fire playing the ball impressively out of the tackle and around the side of the ruck for their captain, Hugh O’Donnell, to power over.

Once again, they had the ammunition to respond to a sweeping try by Belvedere’s other lock Michael Hanlon with a strong finish from replacement wing Niall Fleming in injury-time in what was a half-dozen tries from as many players.

NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: C Healy; P Kyne, J Howlett, J O’Neill, J Darcy; M Sutton, B Finan; J Phelan, C Doyle, H O’Donnell, S Treacy, T Treacy, C Nugent, M O’Connor, T Brady. Replacements: N Delahunt for O’Neill 34 mins; N Fleming for Howlett 47 mins; C Conlon for Doyle 48 mins; M Stapleton for Sutton 58 mins; J Deane for Phelan 68 mins.

BELVEDERE COLLEGE: C Clifford; S Cole, S McCullagh, N Turley, J Mulvaney; M White, A Foy; L Browne, N Jennings, B Lysaght, M Hanlon, P Foley, J Doyle, T Keane, J Hutchinson. Replacements: F O’Meara for Cole ht; J McGauran for Jennings 61 mins.

Referee: R O’Flynn (Leinster Branch).