Bigger, stronger and with pace down the flanks, particularly the right where winger James Norton did so much damage, St Mary's were in little danger of losing this Leinster Schools Senior Cup second round match at Donnybrook yesterday.
Norton's three tries capped an outstanding performance from a player who could just as easily have played this game in the second or back rows, such was his physical presence.
Ably supported by captain and flanker Louis Burke, who supplied an endless stream of heavy tackles, and open side Shane Jennings, St Mary's were simply too powerful all round for the spirited CBC challenge.
CBC captain George Mahon led his side intermittantly to the St Mary's line and early into the second half finally they breached the winners' cover when hooker John Dunne emerged in possession after a push over try in the left corner.
By that stage, however, St Mary's had already run in a match-winning four tries, the first when loose head Colm Barry gathered from the back of a line out five yards out and drove through the CBC cover.
The second score arrived after 24 minutes when Norton finished off a sweeping move. Perhaps the try of the day belonged to Jennings who collected just inside the CBC half and then changed direction twice before handing off the last tackle in a wonderful run.
It was Norton just three minutes before half-time who stretched the lead to 20-0, following another cross field sweeping move which he finished off with a powerful lunge.
Dunne's effort on 44 minutes brought the score to 20-5 before two more tries in the final six minutes capped the St Mary's display. Brian Moran crashed over following a quick tap penalty scrum-half Fionan Henry, with full back Kieran Lewis converting. Norton then gained his hat-trick, Lewis again converting for a comfortable win.
Scoring sequence: 19 mins: C Barry try 5-0; 24: J Norton try, 10-0; 28: S Jennings try 15-0; 32: Norton try 20-0; 44: J Dunne try 20-5; 64: B Moran try, K Lewis con 27-5; 69: Norton try, Lewis con 34-5.
St Mary's: K Lewis; J Norton, S Nagle, S Lonergan, P Costello; P Madden, F Henry; C Barry, K Rynhart, B Moran, C Queenan, K McArdle, L Burke (capt), S Jennings, B Brophy. Replacements: D O'Neil for Lonergan (50 mins); E Higgins for McArdle (50 mins); K McCabe for Barry (52 mins); K Daly for Queenan (65 mins).
CBC Monkstown: D McKenna; J Kirwan, S Collins, N Kearns, O Nolan; C Hogan, C Boyd; J Tuthill, J Dunne, P McKenna, A Devlin, S Kearns, G Mahon (capt), T O'Reilly, J Walsh. Replacements: R Managh for S Kearns (50 mins); S Collins for Dunne (60 mins); M McDonnell for T O'Reilly (60 mins). Referee: P Gray (ARLB).
