NEWBRIDGE advanced to the quarter finals of the Leinster Senior Cup with a narrow victory over Wesley in a tense, absorbing encounter at Templeville Road yesterday.
The victors had to wait until the 49th minute before they broke the deadlock with a huge, wind assisted penalty by inside centre Leslie Copeland. Incredibly, that was the only score of a dour struggle in driving wind and icy rain that gave advocates of summer rugby plenty of ammunition.
Revelling in the conditions, the Newbridge back row of John Roche, David Renton, and number eight Henry Hegarty were impressive in loose and set play.
Wesley had the advantage of the gale in the first half but, apart from a spell at the beginning, they rarely put the towering Newbridge pack under serious pressure.
Wesley out half Stephen Doherty missed a penalty chance after three minutes but it was Newbridge who finished the first half camped on the Wesley line, a couple of five yard serums just failing to yield a try for the Kildare side.
Newbridge might have felt they would take control in the second half but Wesley's stout defence and some slick handling by their backline kept them at bay.
