Jonathan Ross-Belvedere JCT 2018 U18 Proof#1

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PREVIEW: BANK OF IRELAND LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP 1ST ROUND February 2, 2018

St Michael’s College celebrate their victory in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup Final replay.

There was a collective intake of breath when Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster and Ireland flanker Dan Leavy drew St Michael’s and Blackrock out of the hat at the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup first round draw before Christmas.

Last year, St Michael’s were portrayed as near-certain winners long before the start of the competition with what was described as their best ever Junior team.

Eventually, they delivered their fourth title, to add to those of 1991, 2002 and 2012, finding redemption in doing to Blackrock what had been done to them the year before.

The fact it took a replay to separate the school reflected the inspiration Blackrock took from having their dominance challenged. It took a vintage St Michael’s to derail ‘Rock from what would have been their fifth title in a row, their 51st in all, as Leinster Schools wing Chris Cosgrave decorated the game with his brilliance.

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This year, ‘Rock are raging favourites for any number of reasons from their formidable pack of forwards, led by prop Scott Barron, to their smooth three-quarters. However, they were overturned by St Michael’s in a friendly – captain Stephen Woods is back in the second row – and this is reason enough for Blackrock to tread carefully at Donnybrook on Sunday.

The next day, the rocketing rise of Temple Carrig will be tested by Clongowes Wood at Donnybrook.

The Greystones school appeared, almost out of thin air, to capture the Bank of Ireland Fr Godfrey Cup last year, playing a wonderful brand of free-flowing rugby.

It was no ‘one-year wonder’ as they were heading into the Junior League Division 1A final this year until a Roscrea surge saw them fall achingly short (32-29) in the semi-final.

Clongowes come into the competition under the radar and they will be fancied to progress from the most interesting tie of the round, although a surprise could be on the cards.

On the same day, Leinster Junior League winners Castleknock College should be humming for a repeat of their semi-final match-up with Gonzaga in which there were 10 points between them. ‘Knock have two strong centres in Fionn Gibbons and Sean Casey that ‘Zaga will have to plan for.

On Tuesday, St Mary’s will be eager to repair the damage done from defeat to the same opponents

in the first round last year. Newbridge will look to maintain their current high standing against the Rathmines crew.

On Wednesday, it is difficult to look any further than Belvedere when they come up against Catholic University School at Donnybrook, the former fancied to make a mark this year.

However, CUS are excited about a squad that has been competitive with the very best in what is reputed to be their strongest Junior side for many years.

On Thursday, there is a double-header in Donnybrook where League finalists Roscrea are in with a shout of knocking off Terenure.

Before that, Fr Godfrey Cup qualifiers Kilkenny, with Joshua Akanji-Murphy impressing at lock, will have to be at their best to unseat CBC Monkstown.

On the same day, the first round will be completed out in Greystones RFC when the other Fr Godfrey qualifiers Wesley will go blow-for-blow with St Gerard’s in what could be a close one.

Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup 1st Round fixtures: Sunday, 4th February St Michael’s College v Blackrock College, Donnybrook 3pm Monday, 5th February Clongowes Wood College v Temple Carrig, Donnybr Gonzaga College v Castleknock College, Clontarf FC Tuesday, 6th February Newbridge College v St Mary’s College, Donnybrook Wednesday, 7th February Catholic University School v Belvedere College, Donnybrook 3pm Thursday, 8th February CBC Monkstown v Kilkenny College, Donnybrook Wesley College v St Gerard’s School, Greystones RFC Cistercian College, Roscrea v Terenure College, Donnybrook

BELVEDERE QUALIFY FOR 2ND ROUND OF THE JUNIOR CUP AFTER DEFEATING CUS February 7, 2018

Belvedere College were made to work hard by the Catholic University School (CUS) for their place in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Junior Cup quarter-final at Donnybrook today.

CUS applied all the early pressure from a five-metre scrum and a penalty before Belvedere flanker Eoghan Rutledge was binned in the sixth minute.

It was then Belvedere out-half Finn McCarrick blazed away from well inside his own half for a stunning try, converted by Dylan O’Grady in the 10th minute.

They were quickly back on the attack, centre Daniel Hawkshaw’s kick causing all sorts of bother for terri-

tory.

When prop Jonathan Sargent was held up over the line, the scrum was used to set up a strike move for full-back O’Grady to cut through on the angle and convert to make it 14-0 in the 15th minute.

Then, they were held up over the line twice before another smooth move, involving a loop by McCarrick with Hawkshaw, was taken to the house by O’Grady for 19-0 in the 23rd minute.

There was still a lot to like about CUS’s approach and they nearly struck back when wing Matthew Tonge was held up for a scrum.

Centre Benedict Lockhart took a fine line and prop Callum Clinton came around the corner to dive over, Clinton converting to narrow the deficit at the break.

CUS were more inclined to go to the boot of Lockhart, switched into out-half, and they benefitted from an O’Grady spill. Wings Kevin Gill and Tonge turned defence into attack and number eight Martin Healy was a driving force.

Lockhart slipped a penalty just right of the posts before his openside Tom Brennan got back to stop a certain try.

But, Belvedere were in the right area and from a five-metre scrum, their three-quarters were accurate in sending O’Grady in for his hat-trick in the 50th minute.

Loose-head Sargent bulled his way over for the fifth try, O’Grady kicking the extras.

Belvedere College: Dylan O’Grady; Scott Meaney, Joshua Maher, Daniel Hawkshaw, Michael Rock; Finn McCarrick, Ben Foy; Jonathan Sargent, David Lambe, Senan Hayes, Jonathan Flynn, Cillian Doran, Eoghan Rutledge, Alexander Hayden, Jonathan Ross (capt).

Replacements: Eric Carroll for Rock 37 mins; Cian Russell for Hayes 46 mins; Rob Keeley for Foy, Donnacha O’Longaigh for Lambe both 52 mins; Cameron Daly for Maher 56 mins; Michael Moore for Sargent, Ciaran Cope for Flynn, Brian Walsh for Meaney all 58 mins.

Catholic University Sschool: Jay Walsh; Matthew Tonge, Benedict Lockhart, Vincent Flynn, Kevin Gill; Darragh Gleeson, Sam Owens; Callum Clinton, Jack Guinan, Oran Walsh, Ethan Hauer, Mark Fleming, Niall O’Neill, Tom Brennan, Martin Healy (capt).

Replacements: Shane Herron for Gleeson ht; Jay Wallace for Hauer 48 mins; Oisin Brabazon for Herron 50 mins; Gary Conroy for Fleming 56 mins; Dimitri Pavlyuk for Walsh 58 mins

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BELVEDERE COLLEGE CONVINCING WINNERS IN BANK OF IRELAND LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL February 26, 2018

Belvedere College were good value for their Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final win over Clongowes Wood College at a bitingly cold Donnybrook Stadium on Monday afternoon.

There was a frantic opening from Clongowes’ direct runners in Hugh Wilkinson, John Carroll and Rory Morrin, met with the tenacity of Belvedere’s tackling.

A bout of kicking concluded with Belvo’s out-half Finn McCarrick tickling a kick over the top and into the right corner.

Just when Clongowes looked to have escaped from wing Derick Sholarin’s recovery of Charlie McNamee’s exit kick, Belvedere scrum-half Ben Foy trapped them with another superb tactical kick.

The pressure was on at the lineout and Clongowes failed to deal

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with it, number eight Jonathan Ross seizing on the opportunity for the opening try, full-back Dylan O’Grady converting for 7-0 in as many minutes.

They were nearly in again when hooker David Lambe’s offload was judged to be forward just as wing Michael Rock dove in on the left.

The Clane school had to arrest the momentum or they would suffer further consequences.

They just couldn’t prevent the Belvedere forwards from churning out the hard yards and prop Jonathan Sargent blasted over for 12-0 in the 14th minute.

Out-half McCarrick’s tantalising kick was touched down by centre Daniel Hawkshaw for O’Grady to strike a tremendous conversion in the 21st minute.

Clongowes did find relief from prop Marcos Roca’s turnover on halfway, out-half Charlie McNamee’s touch-finder putting them in place for centre Morrin to cut through on the left for a fine try, converted by scrum-half Oisin Devitt for 19-7, just before the break.

Straight away, Morrin was back on the ball, bursting forward and kicking ahead to bring a sense of danger again.

They began to edge the battle for field position with loose forwards John Carroll and Wilkinson prominent, the latter almost sliding over in the right corner.

They had to strike while they had the ball. But, they were thwarted more than once.

Then, Belvedere broke out of their defensive shell for McCarrick to counter and left wing Michael Rock to finish on the left for 24-7 in the 45th minute.

Morrin was on the rampage again to create an opening for wing Sholarin to threaten down the left.

But, the game was gone and Belvedere saw it out comfortably.

At Donnybrook – Belvedere College 24 (J Sargent, D Hawkshaw, J Ross, M Rock try each; D O’Grady 2 cons); Clongowes Wood College 7 (R Morrin try; O Devitt con).

Belvedere: Dylan O’Grady; Scott Meaney, Joshua Maher, Daniel Hawkshaw, Michael Rock; Finn McCarrick, Ben Foy; Jonathan Sargent, David Lambe, Senan Hayes, Jonathan Flynn, Cillian Doran, Eoghan Rutledge, Alexander Hayden, Jonathan Ross (capt).

Replacements: Cian Russell for Hayden 43 mins; Rob Keely for Foy 52 mins; Ciaran Cope for Flynn, Eric Carroll for Maher both 55 mins.

Clongowes: Charlie Reilly (capt); Michael Spillane, Rory Morrin, Stephen Black, Derick Sholarin; Charlie McNamee, Oisin Devitt; Marcus Roca, Leo Dowling, Barry D’Arcy, Andrew Matthews, Aran Mannion, Louis Murray, John Carroll, Hugh Wilkinson.

Replacements: Toby O’Donnell for D’Arcy, Inigo Cruise-O’Brien for Mathews both 52 mins George Coman for Devitt 53 mins; Harry McGrath for Black, Senan Noone for Sholarin, Rory MacGabhann for Dowling, Fred Gavigan for Wilkinson all 58 mins.

Referee: B Cuttriss, Leinster Branch.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE ADVANCE TO JUNIOR CUP FINAL March 13, 2018

Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile Two tries in the second-half sent St Mary’s College through to the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Junior Cup final for the first time in 21 years at Donnybrook on Tuesday.

After the initial sparring, Belvedere took control of the ball and got their forwards on the front foot until St Mary’s wing Ross Moore cut out a dangerous pass and prop Adam Mulvihill followed up to force a penalty in the shadow of the posts.

There was confidence in St Mary’s defence that forced mistakes through pressure. But, it couldn’t go on that way.

Belvo’s Dylan O’Grady burst through on the right where Sam Czerniek brought down the full-back.

For all of the good approach work, the breakthrough came down to a lineout where captain Jonathan Ross grabbed a throw at the back to finish sharply on the right. Then, O’Grady landed an unlikely conversion from the right for 7-0 in the 17th minute.

They were almost in again when O’Grady came raiding down the right from a pre-planned move for wing Scott Meaney to chip

the last man back and just fail to ground the bobbling ball.

St Mary’s were spending far too much time in retreat, despite the form of centres Rob Nolan and Barra O’Loughlin.

Slowly, they moved upfield until a crucial knock-on denied them the time in Belvedere territory for which they were crying out.

The grappling work of Ross and kick of scrum-half Ben Foy put the Northsiders back in control.

It stayed that way to the break without the extra points that would have given them greater comfort.

On the restart, St Mary’s moved into position through keep-ball and the lineout connection from hooker Matthew Black to the leaping Hugo Massey.

The maul travelled and, when going to the floor, the carriers came around the corner in waves for number eight Adam Sloan to claim the try to reduce the gap to two in the 32nd minute.

It was game on, for St Mary’s had shown Belvedere they were capable of taking chances if they could just make more of them.

Their confidence was on the rise as their backs moved the ball sweetly from left to right.

It was Belvedere’s turn to show how they could defend in squeezing the space out wide and hooker David Lambe snaffling a penalty at the breakdown midway into the second period.

St Mary’s were beginning to churn out the hard yards as hooker Black and flanker John Kennedy led the charge.

They eventually worked an opening for centre Nolan to have a pop down the left.

They were clean in their ruck work and satisfied with a metre-by-metre approach from one-out runners until replacement Andrew Gibbons crashed to the line for 10-7 in the 50th minute.

There was a sense that the tide had turned from a ball kicked

out on the full to two quick mistakes that ceded ground to the Rathmines school.

A superb tackle by Nolan forced a turnover and flanker Will Sparrow was on hand to take the ball forward.

This counter was yet again stifled by Belvo’s superior work on the floor for a penalty with that man Lambe close to the action.

They went to touch and to their maul to suck in numbers, lock Daniel Leane somehow getting through to cause a turnover scrum.

St Mary’s couldn’t hold onto the ball. But, flanker Kennedy and wing Moore made big tackles behind the gain line for St Mary’s to see it out.

At Donnybrook – St Mary’s College 10 (A Gibbons, A Sloan try each); Belvedere College 7 (J Ross try; D O’Grady con) St Mary’s College: Max Svedjar; Ross Moore, Rob Nolan, Barra O’Loughlin, Sam Czerniek; Daragh Gilbourne, Senan Devereux; Collum Dillon, Matthew Black, Adam Mulvihill (capt), Daniel Leane, Hugo Massey, Will Sparrow, John Kennedy, Adam Sloan.

Replacements: Euan Feeney for Svejdar 29 mins; Andrew Gibbons for Sparrow, Matthew Gallagher for Dillon both 41 mins; Garreth O’Moore for Massey 56 mins.

Belvedere College: Dylan O’Grady; Scott Meaney, Joshua Maher, Daniel Hawkshaw, Eric Carroll; Finn McCarrick, Ben Foy; Cian Russell, David Lambe, Senan Hayes, Jonathan Flynn, Cillian Doran, Jonathan Sargent, Eoghan Rutledge, Jonathan Ross (capt).

Replacements: Zander Hayden for Russell 50 mins; Rob Keeley for Devereux 54 mins.

Referee: J Flynn, Leinster Branch.

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St Michael’s College 12-36 Clongowes College 18-12 Gonzaga College 0-20 Newbridge College 12-20 CUS 7-31 C.B.C. Monkstown 20-19 Wesley College 16-25 Cistercian College Roscrea 5-44 Belvedere College 24-7 Blackrock College 33-10 Castleknock College 30-7 Terenure College 0-10 Belvedere College 7-10 Blackrock College 15-5 Blackrock College 24 -14

Blackrock College Temple Carrig School Castleknock College St Mary’s College Belvedere College Kilkenny College St Gerard’s School Terenure College Clongowes Wood St Gerard’s School C.B.C. Monkstown St Mary’s College St Mary’s College Castleknock Col St Mary’s College

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Belvedere College JCT 2018.

Dylan O’Grady, Scott Meaney, Joshua Maher, Daniel Hawkshaw, Eric Carroll; Finn McCarrick, Ben Foy; Cian Russell, David Lambe, Senan Hayes, Jonathan Flynn, Cillian Doran, Jonathan Sargent, Eoghan Rutledge, Jonathan Ross (capt). Zander Hayden, Rob Keeley, Michael Rock, Alexander Hayden, Donnacha OLongaigh, Michael Moore, Ciaran Cope, Cameron Daly, Brian Walsh

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