SCHOOLS RUGBY VINNIE MURRAY CUP/Newbridge College 15 King's Hospital 0:A SUPERB TRY by wing Ivan Briody gave Newbridge College the breathing space to repel King's Hospital and qualify for the Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Senior Cup final at an exposed NUIM, Maynooth, yesterday.
The Newbridge had first use of a gusting wind that forced King’s Hospital to hold on to the ball into the face of it. The conditions militated against expansive rugby.
However, Newbridge scrumhalf Robbie Mullen did kick a 14th-minute penalty. Otherwise, chances were at a premium.
Nonetheless, outhalf Mark Sutton’s quick feet and Briody’s support line were too much for the Hospital defence in the 27th minute. Mullen converted for a 10-0 lead.
On the resumption, King’s Hospital opted to run the ball instead of letting the wind do the work and playing for territory. This did not aid their cause as the rain made handling a nightmare.
With the minutes ticking away, Newbridge made the game safe when Mullen latched on to a spilled ball and hacked it on three times only to be tackled without the ball for what the referee deemed to be a penalty try.
NEWBRIDGE: C Healy; I Briody, C Ryan (capt), G Burns, P O’Neill; M Sutton, R Mullen; J Phelan, C Murphy, B O’Donnell, S O’Rourke, B Scully, C O’Brien, M Kavanagh, R Snell. Replacements: O McKnight for O’Brien (50 mins); C Grant for O’Donnell (63 mins).
KING’S HOSPITAL: J Dowds; D Cuffe, D Butler, I Fitzpatrick, V Hughes; E Walsh, A More; N Mpiko, E Ryan, A Burke, D Duffy, L Janssens (capt), J Hogan, C Spillane, G Reynolds. Replacements: C Kenny for Hogan (39 mins); G Mumalashvili for Mpiko (56 mins); B Matthews for Ryan (58 mins); L Morgan for Hughes (63 mins); S Olusa for Cuffe (69 mins).
Referee: S McCann (Leinster Branch).
