RUGBY LEINSTER SCHOOLS:SISTER COMPREHENSIVE schools Mount Temple and Newpark will meet in the semi-finals of the Leinster Senior Schools (Section A) McMullen Cup following their respective wins over CBS Naas and Dundalk Grammar yesterday.
Temple outhalf Adam Merrey was the match winner with 19 points in their 34-19 defeat of Naas at Clondalkin RFC.
He was backed up by the outstanding form of backrowers Conor McGinley and Vincent Gavin against a two-try salvo from Naas’s excellent centre Adam Byrne.
Dundalk Grammar looked like putting it right up to Newpark when holding a 10-5 lead, on the back of a try from fullback Robert Williams and the solid place-kicking of their outhalf, Ultan Murphy, close to half-time.
It was then Newpark exploded into life, fullback Sam Crowe knifing through the defence for two tries and centre Fergus Halpin going on to complete a hat-trick in the second half of a 36-10 passage at Balbriggan RFC.
Skerries Community College centre Aidan Sherlock blasted to the line in the 66th minute for the decisive try, quickly followed by an insurance penalty by outhalf Kevin McGrath, in their 18-10 win over St Conleth’s College at Malahide RFC.
Earlier, scrumhalf Eoghan Carron and centre Fergus Grant gave Skerries a slight advantage from two unconverted tries until St Conleth’s struck back through their place-kicker Roger Mannion and a 59th-minute touchdown from hooker Liam Feheny.
Results
At Malahide RFC– Skerries CC 18 (E Carron, F Grant, A Sherlock try each; K McGrath pen) St Conleth's College 10 (L Feheny try; R Mannion pen, con).
At Balbriggan RFC– Newpark Comprehensive 36 (F Halpin 3 tries; S Crowe 2 tries; J Kelly pen, 4 cons) Dundalk Grammar 10 (R Williams try; U Murphy pen, con).
At Clondalkin RFC– Mount Temple 34 (A Merrey try, 2 pens, 4 cons; C McGinley, S Gibney, N Maxwell try each) CBS Naas 19 (A Byrne 2 tries; J Waters try; R Casey 2 cons).
