Campbell drives Naas to glory

THE power and pace of centre Robert Campbell was the decisive factor in CBS Naas’s second Leinster Schools Section A McMullen Senior Cup title in six seasons at Navan RFC yesterday.

The moment of magic arrived in the 26th minute. Naas had just taken the lead when Campbell flighted a left-footed penalty between the posts.

Boosted by this, Naas returned immediately on the attack. Lock Niall Gorry took the ball on. Out-half Ian Kenny chipped the advancing defence and Campbell took off on a 60-metre surge that took him around the final defender and into the right corner.

It was a body blow Wilson’s could never really recover from, although they tried to the bitter end, their back row of Jordan Gillmor, Mark Colton and captain Barry Stewart and centre Phillip Butler never dropping their heads.

CBS NAAS: R Casey; M Tutty, C Healy, R Campbell (capt), D Redfern; I Kenny, P O’Brien; R Bryan, C Doolan, E Griffin, N Gorry, K Downey, C Fitzsimons, L Murphy, R Cronin.

Replacements: A Byrne for Redfern ht; F Leahy for Tutty 51 mins; O Daly for Fitzsimons 61 mins.

WILSON’S HOSPITAL: Patrick Butler; M Montoya, R Douglas, Philip Butler, A Dolan; A Douglas, E Wardrop; D Brady, S Wakefield T Biddulph, I Farrell, A Claxton, J Gillmore, M Colton, B Stewart (capt).

Replacements: B McDonnell for Dolan 61 mins.

Referee: P Beggy, Leinster Branch.