Schools Rugby/Vinnie Murray Cup:Replacement Mark O'Beirne was the extra man at the end of a move to claim the match-winning try for Wesley College in their 17-8 win over Newbridge College in the Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Cup first round at Barnhall.
Wesley had the character to recover from an 8-3 deficit when a try by prop Jason Harney and a penalty from outhalf Ronan Skehan looked like giving the Kildare boys the upper hand.
The winners never pressed the panic button. Outhalf Barry McLoughlin kicked three penalties and a drop goal and backrow O'Byrne crossed before the match had to be delayed for 25 minutes when the Newbridge replacement Ultan Osbourne broke an arm in the final quarter.
CUS benefited from a solid start to hold off Presentation College Bray 8-6 at Stradbrook. Shane McGrath's penalty and Phelim McMahon's try gave them a lead worth defending.
Newpark Comprehensive kept their discipline to protect their line and slender lead in squeezing past St Columba's College 5-3 at Kilternan.
There was little or nothing in this one, and it will be interesting to see what happens when the pair reconvene for the Section A McMullen Cup final in the weeks ahead.
Right wing Darragh Fox scooted into the right corner when scoring the only try of the game.
The losers' temporary replacement John Warren reduced the gap to 5-3 in the 28th minute.
The Leinster Schools A outhalf Ian McKinlay, restricted by injury, was sprung from the bench for St Columba's at the break. He did all he could to rectify the situation, but there was no way past a resolute defence led by number eight Michael O'Sullivan and blindside Emmet O'Mahony.
