Schools' Rugby Leinster Junior Cup semi-final: Blackrock College should have been convincingly beaten in yesterday's semi-final but stubbornness and pride ensured Belvedere were made work into injury time. The refereeing of Paul Haycock contributed handsomely to a tense contest.
Twenty minutes in and Belvedere looked set to pull clear. Their excellent scrumhalf Peter Toal had just crossed for the second try and they were dominating up front. They stretched Blackrock every time they ran the ball as captain Conor Colclough excelled at centre.
Three minutes later Blackrock made their first incursion into the opposition half. After a couple of phases, Toal lifted the siege to speed out of defence, only being hauled down by a last-gasp tackle from Marcus O'Sullivan. They continued to press, Colclough's drop at goal drifting right.
Blackrock needed the break. Nothing had gone to plan as earlier in the day they lost scrumhalf Alan MacGinty to illness while a well-drilled pack came up against a side superior in stature. Number eight Douglas Memery, hooker Thomas Sexton and lock Luke Mangan are three of an outstanding Belvedere eight. And yet, their jewels are to be found from nine to 15.
Before the game had settled, Belvedere showed their hand when a speculative chip by Colclough was allowed to bounce deep in the 22 and outhalf Rowan Consodine collected and scored in the corner.
Then came the pivotal score. Toal spotted a gap 40-metres out and was gone. Blackrock's full back Gavin Greene did bring him to ground but the scrumhalf recovered his footing to make the line. Greene atoned over the 60 minutes with some penetrating running but, including one early in the second-half that brought Blackrock into the Belvedere 22. Despite sporadic counter attacking that's where play stayed for the third quarter.
Eventually, David Dunne unleashed his back line with Greene making the vital link to left wing O'Sullivan but a try was denied by John Conroy's tackle.
Blackrock were now playing from memory. A quick tap brought play inches from the try line and after six drives, prop Keith Groeger changed the point of attack to blindside to force his body over the line. Dunne landed the conversion. to make it a three-point game.
Belvedere began to trust their ability to spread the ball among their backs. When down in Blackrock territory the ball was kept tight and the minutes dissolved into seconds.
Scoring sequence: 3 mins: R Consodine try, 5-0; 20 mins: P Toal try, 10-0. Half-time: 10-0. 47 mins: K Groeger try, 10-5; D Dunne conv, 10-7.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: J Conroy; M Keating, P Crosby, C Colclough (capt), N Myron; R Consodine, P Toal; N Lovic, T Sexton, L Habiyakare; E Browne, L Mangan; C Doyle, D Murphy, D Memery. Replacement: C Barry for L Habiykare (48 mins), C O'brien for C Doyle, D Traynor for R Consodine (both 66 mins).
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: G Greene; C Doyle, L O'Daly, J Murphy, M O'Sullivan; D Dunne, K McEvoy; K Groeger, S Lambe, S Schuster; S McBride, D Hillery; B Kelly, T Parsons, M Cawley. Replacements: I Abrahams for T Parsons (44 mins), A Philpott for C Doyle (53 mins).
Referee: P Haycock (ARLB).
