St Michael's - 44, St Paul's - 3: They may not be the biggest side in the world, but one would have to travel some distance to see a better organised XV than St Michael's College, who lived up to their tag as one of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup favourites, with a smooth win over St Paul's College in the second round at Donnybrook yesterday.
It didn't start out that way. St Paul's took the lead with a Conor O'Daly penalty in the 13th minute and they didn't shirk their physical duty for the rest of the afternoon. However, sometimes, there is no answer to good organisation and St Michael's had that in spades.
When the breakthrough came, it was something to behold. Second-row Ben Dunne expertly took the ball and outhalf Phillip Howard had a cut. Hooker David Gavin took it on and it was spun for right wing Spencer Mitton to outflank the cover.
There were two more tries from centre Gavin Doyle, despite the astounding tackle of St Paul's prop Gary Brady on Mitton, and left wing Gareth Dixon to make it 15-3 at the break.
It looked as though St Paul's were in for a hiding, despite the efforts of Brady, blindside Dan Darcy, number eight Jim Gallagher and scrumhalf Stephen Lennon. It says something about their faultless attitude that St Michael's only tacked on four tries in the second half. Their continuity game was second to none as outhalf Phillip Howard was sharp to exploit any weakness.
The tries came through prop Ben Harris, second row Ben Dunne, Rockett and replacement centre Stephen McGrath. If Howard's goalkicking did not measure up to the rest of his game - he found the target for the first time with his sixth shot at goal - he did make it four in a row in the last quarter.
ST MICHAEL'S COLLEGE: J Gobbons; S Mitton, G Byron, G Doyle, G Dixon; P Howard, J Pollard; B Harris, D Gavin, N Best, B Dunne, J McCarthy, G Maguire, B Maher, J Rockett. Replacements: S McGrath for Doyle h.t.; R Kenny for Maguire, M Furlong for Maher 61; A Kelly for Gavin all 61 mins; B Menton for Pollard 66 mins.
ST PAUL'S COLLEGE: L Billings; R Grimes, P Byrne, C Keegan, D Flynn; C O'Daly, S Lennon; S McIlvenna, E Kidd, G Brady, M Hickey, C D'Arcy, D Darcy, G Reynolds, J Gallagher. Replacements: A Menton for Flynn 28 mins; C Billings for Reynolds 45 mins; S Nang le for Byrne 61 mins; J O'Connor for Kidd 62 mins.
Referee: K Beggs (Leinster Branch).
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