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Bowen's late kick allows Wanderers to progress

Leinster Senior Cup Semi-final: Simon Bowen launched a massive drop goal, in the sixth minute of injury-time, to put Wanderers…

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Thu May 08 2003 - 01:00

Leinster Senior Cup Semi-final: Simon Bowen launched a massive drop goal, in the sixth minute of injury-time, to put Wanderers into the Leinster Senior Cup semi-final at Merrion Road last night.

In truth, they just about deserved it for a huge second-half effort that saw them camped in Old Wesley territory for long periods.

Had Wesley held on for a replay, they would have owed a large debt to their defensive strength.

The visitors were 6-0 ahead through two penalties from outhalf Dave Smith in the 11th and 20th minutes. Bowen gave Wanderers a brief experience of the lead with a try, converted by Tim Sampson.

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Soon, centre Michael Smyth bumped off one tackler to edge Wesley back in front. Smith added the points and a 38th-minute penalty to make it 16-7 at the break.

Wesley defended with aggression and discipline until the 69th minute. A Wanderers maul, from a five-metre lineout, crashed over for Junior Charlie to claim the glory.

Centre David Keeffe sped over on the left, with two minutes left on the clock, for Sampson to forge a 19-16 lead from the extra points.

Smith's 82nd-minute penalty looked as though it would salvage a draw, especially when Sampson was wide from a 37-metre penalty, but Wanderers still had time to snaffle the drop out and Bowen adjusted his feet to bring down an awkward pass and lash the ball over the bar.

Scoring sequence: 11 mins: Smith pen, 0-3; 20 mins: Smith pen, 0-6; 24 mins: Bowen try, Sampson con, 7-6; 31 mins: Smyth try, Smith con, 7-13; 38 mins: Smith pen, 7-16; 69 mins: Charlie try, 12-16; 78 mins: O'Keeffe try, Sampson con, 19-16; 82 mins: Smith pen 19-19, 80+6 mins: Bowen drop goal, 22-19.

WANDERERS: S Bowen; D O'Sullivan, D O'Keeffe,, N Osbourne, M Culhane; T Sampson, A Smyth; R Cole, B Cantrell, A Ellison, N Culliton, T Magee, J Charlie, M Kavanagh, E Wardell. Replacements: G Murphy for Osbourne (19 mins); M O'Keeffe for Kavanagh (half time); C Boyd for Culhane (65 mins).

OLD WESLEY: B Hogan; M Lavelle, R O'Connor, M Smyth, G Byrne; D Smith, P Campbell; I Wallace, D Swaine, A O'Donnell, B Lowe, V Ryan, S Melville, J Sharpe, K Steinbach. Replacements: S Kinlan for O'Donnell (2 mins); S Johnston for Lavelle (58 mins).

Referee: D Keane (Leinster).