Pres march on after tough test from battling Bandon

PBC CORK coach Peter Scott admitted he has plenty of food for thought ahead of his side’s Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final clash with St Munchin’s, after seeing his side rigorously tested by a game Bandon Grammar outfit at Temple Hill yesterday.

The tag of overwhelming favourites seemed to rest heavy on the Cork city school, who nonetheless produced the goods at crucial times to ensure a shock was never on the cards.

Pres crossed for four fine tries, with scores early in each half doing the most lasting damage, but Scott said discipline and the breakdown are two areas he will be focusing on in the build-up to the March 7 clash with the Limerick nursery.

“It was a strange game,” said Scott. “Bandon competed very well as we expected; they had not a lot to lose and a whole lot to gain.

“At times we were very good, but at others we didn’t go through our phases, made poor decisions and Bandon won the breakdown area, which gave us a big problem.

“I was disappointed with our discipline; we gave away far too many penalties in the second half, so that’s a major criticism for our players and something we’ve to address.”

Bandon couldn’t catch a break in the opening exchanges. They were turned over in their red zone when trying to run the ball back after Pres out-half Sean Óg Murphy’s fourth-minute penalty had dropped short, with Rob O’Herlihy rumbling over for an unconverted try.

Bandon skipper James Bendon had to depart after injuring himself trying to haul down the giant Pres lock, a huge blow to the visitors. They then allowed a harmless high kick to bounce in their 22 in the 20th minute, gifting Pres wing Ross Caplice a a try, converted by Murphy for 12-0.

“We were determined to have a good start but conceded an early try, that’s what disappointed me the most,” admitted Bandon coach George Bradfield. “We were always chasing it after that.”

Sweetnam put Bandon on the scoreboard three minutes later, drilling over a 40m penalty. Murphy cancelled that effort out on 35 minutes, but Sweetnam then sparked the move of the match with a delicious weighted chip over the on-rushing Pres defence.

Conor Stallard gathered, and a stunning series of offloads involving Robbie Skuse and Conor Pullin almost ended with a try in the corner.

Sweetnam landed a penalty awarded in the next phase from wide out to reduce the arrears to nine points, but Bradfield admitted a try at this stage could have changed the game: “It was a pity, it was a super move that deserved a score.”

Pres made them pay by landing the killer blow just after half-time — centre Seamus Glynn gliding over after Murphy had attacked the gain-line — and were subsequently held up over the line four times in the second half.

Sweetnam hit back from the placed ball again for Bandon for 22-9, but Pres’ superior defensive lineout kept the west Cork school at arm’s length.

Caplice crossed for his second try with two minutes to go after quick hands from Glynn, Jack Costigan and the impressive Cathal O’Flaherty.

Scores for PBC: R Caplice 2 tries; S Glynn, R O’Herlihy try each; S Óg Murphy 2 cons, pen.

Scorers for Bandon: D Sweetnam 3 pens.

PBC CORK: P Deasy; R Caplice, J Costigan, S Glynn, E Dennehy; S Óg Murphy; R Barry; C Keane, B Vaughan, N Scannell; R O’Herlihy, D O’Mahony (capt); B Carroll, J Duffy, C O’Flaherty.

Replacements: K Ryan for Duffy (43), K Kingston for Carroll (56, inj), E O’Shaughnessy for Barry (63), B Coughlan for Keane, B Scott for Vaughan (both 69).

BANDON GRAMMAR: C Pullin; R Skuse, C Stallard, W Godsil, C Moloney; D Sweetnam, J Robinson; S McElroy, N Willoughby, S Kingston; D Reynolds, A Tanner; J Bendon (capt), S Hunter, H Travers.

Replacements: E Tyrrell for Bendon (4, inj); D Boyd for Moloney, L Pybus for Kingston (both 69).

Referee: B O’Connell (MAR)