THE lack of a reliable goalkicker and punch in their threequarter line was not enough to prevent Biackrock College powering into the Leinster Schools' Junior Cup quarter finals at Donnybrook yesterday.

This Blackrock depend very much on their big pack. In this department there will be few better units in the competition. The lynchpin is number eight, Philip Van Esbeck, who shoulders the burden of captaincy with consummate ease. Around him are seven robust mobile forwards. And scrum half, Ross McCormack has the physical dimensions of an extra forward.

St Michael's also relied on a useful pack and the promptings of Simon Byrne at out half. His two first half penalties in the second and 30th minutes sent St Michael's to the break with a 6-5 lead.

Blackrock's try came from the opportunistic McCormack. When Van Esbeck clutched a line out 18 yards out and made valuable ground to within yards of St Michael's line, McCormack's strength was decisive in his push for the line.

St Michael's had two prime line out players in Barry McManus and Robert Aiken.

They guaranteed a stream of possession for half backs Robert Gunn and Byrne. But, like Blackrock, St Michael's had little in the way of match winning ability out wide.

When Blackrock's second half breakthrough came in the 39th minute, it was Van Esbeck who hurtled over in the right corner despite the best efforts of St Michael's left wing Jonathan Groome. Ten minutes from the end flanker Gavin Hegarty claimed a copybook mauling try to ease Blackrock's nerves.

In frustration, some of the St Michael's players began to lose their discipline, and before the end a nasty incident occurred under the stand with St Michael's supporters rushing on to the field in reaction to a melee that was instigated by their own players.