SCHOOLS RUGBY CONNACHT SENIOR CUP/Rice College, Westport 5 Clifden CS 0:RICE COLLEGE, Westport, qualified for the semi-finals for the first time at Carrowholly yesterday. Last year they became the first Mayo school to win a Connacht schools rugby title when they captured the Junior Cup and they had seven members of that team on board yesterday as they saw off the brave challenge of Connemara Community School in atrocious wind, rain and mud.

But both sides produced a superb display of forward play despite the conditions, with little between the sides during a great battle.

Rice College seemed destined for victory when they led 5-0 at the interval despite playing into the wind and rain. The crucial score came after 16 minutes after Rice College had kept the ball in hand and centre Dwayne Corcoran broke from close range for what turned out to be the only score.

The Westport side was expected to pull away in the second half but the Connemara pack had other ideas and most of the second half was played inside the home half as they came in search of an equaliser. However, they were unable to find a way through – the sides were barely distinguishable in the mud – and Rice College held on to book a home semi-final against favourites Marist College, Athlone.

RICE COLLEGE: E Geraghty; B Mullen, P Glavey, D Corcoran, B McDermott; L Staunton, D Carpenter; T Geraghty, K Coughlan, C Groden; E Dunning, M O’Grady; D Moran, M Brady, S McCormack. Replacements: N McCarthy for Coughlan (51 mins), R Ludden for Geraghty (68 mins).

CLIFDEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL: M Conneely; E Coyne, M Gavin, C Molloy, R Walsh; I Heanue, M Walsh; D Barry, M Curley, C Heneghan; J Joyce, N Staunton; S Mullen, J Shannon, P King. Replacement: R O’Donnell for Conneely (37 mins).

Referee: D Eames (CBIRFU).