Sport

Backs provide real cutting edge as Newbridge triumph

VINNIE MURRAY CUP FINAL Newbridge College 20 St Andrew’s College 13: NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE made amends for last year’s defeat in…

Thu Mar 01 2012 - 00:00

VINNIE MURRAY CUP FINAL Newbridge College 20 St Andrew's College 13:NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE made amends for last year's defeat in the final as they overcame St Andrew's College at Templeville Road yesterday.

Usually, it is true forwards do win matches and backs decide by how much. This was different. The Kildare school had the artillery in the three-quarter line to cut open the opposition defence.

Although their forwards couldn’t break even in the tight skirmishes, they did secure enough ball for wing Phil O’Neill to strike for a superb try and scrumhalf Robbie Mullen to pounce from a penalty to put them 8-5 ahead at the break.

It was still anyone’s game, St Andrew’s lock Mark Robinson crashing to the line in the 24th minute to make it five-all before losing the lead and outhalf Daniel Joyce to a harsh yellow card.

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The extra man told straight away, Mullen scooting for 40 yards to provide the platform from which centre Charlie Ryan charged to the line to make it 15-5 in the 40th minute.

Then, outhalf Mark Sutton’s passing created the overlap for prop Jonathan Phelan to outflank the St Andrew’s cover.

From then to the end, the losers dominated the ball. Wing Jack Rowe splashed down in the left corner and right-wing Luke de Renzy nailed a penalty to make it a one-score game. They just couldn't find another key to open the Newbridge defence.

NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: D O'Loughlin; C Deane, C Ryan, G Burns, P O'Neill; M Sutton, R Mullen; J Phelan, C Murphy, B O'Donnell, S O'Rourke, B Scully, M Kavanagh, O McKnight, B Hayden (capt). Replacements: J Coghlan-Murray for Mullen, C Grant for O'Donnell (both 41 mins); R Snell for Kavanagh, I Briody for Deane (both 60 mins); H O'Donnell for Phelan, B Delaney for O'Loughlin (both 66 mins); C O'Brien for O'Rourke (69 mins).

ST ANDREW'S COLLEGE: L Boorman; L de Renzy, G Beere, A Waters, J Rowe; D Joyce, K Weymes; S Locke, B Anderson, R Brady, A McCauley, M Robinson, N Veltom, K McCarthy (capt), G Jones. Replacements: A Brady for Anderson, S Fonteyn for Locke, B Ingram for McCarthy (all 48 mins); R O'Regan for Boorman, B Stephenson for Veltom (both 62 mins); D Hide for Weymes (63 mins).

Referee: G Glennon(Leinster Branch).