Woods try seals victory

Leinster Senior Cup quarter final/ Belvedere College 13 Cistercian Roscrea 3:It took the only try of the game, from left wing Ben Woods in the 69th minute, for Belvedere College to finally shake off a persistent Cistercian College, Roscrea, in the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup quarter-final at Anglesea Road yesterday.

The script had it that Belvedere would cruise through to the last four without too much trouble. It didn't quite work out that way even after flanker Peter Synnott kicked a penalty in the third minute.

Roscrea were rattled by the loss of highly-rated centre David Clarke, who was concussed and taken from the pitch on a stretcher in the eighth minute. They also struggled to get possession at the lineout where they were constantly whistled for crooked throws.

Still, they stepped it up to shunt Belvedere back with number eight Seamus Hennessy, hooker John Hayes and openside Paddy Finn conspicuous at close quarters.

They were held up over the line three times before outhalf David Joyce struck the equaliser on half-time.

Belvedere fullback Michael Keating, their match winner last Sunday week, eventually made his presence felt with a burst down the right that was stopped by desperate defence and Roscrea centre Tiernan O'Hallroan gave away the penalty for going off his feet in pursuit of the ball. Synnott kicked the points to regain the lead in the 49th minute.

Thereafter, Belvedere controlled the ball, restricting Joyce to one shot at goal. It slipped left of the posts. Then, Roscrea lock Rory Shanahan played the ball coming back onside only for Synnott to fluff the kick. It didn't matter in the end as Woods got in for the killer blow in the 69th minute. Synnott converted.

BELVEDERE COLLEGE: M Keating; J Conroy, A Kenny, P Crosby, B Woods; R Considine, D Traynor; CJ Barry, T Sexton (capt), C O'Brien, E Browne, L Mangan, C Doyle, P Synnott, D Memery. Replacements: C Doyle for Conroy (37 mins).

CISTERICAN COLLEGE ROSCREA: J Cody; F Ryan, T O'Halloran, D Clarke, P Rouse; D Joyce, K Quinlan; P Duggan, J Hayes, L Hyland (capt), J Magee, R Shanahan, L Smyth, P Finn, S Hennessy. Replacements: C Pardy for Clarke (8 mins), I Whitley for Finn, T Nolan for Magee (both 55 mins).

Referee: K Henley-Willis(IRFU).