Blackrock College off to a winning start

Blackrock College 23 Clongowes College 15:

Blackrock College held off a brave second-half fight-back from Clongowes Wood at Donnybrook to kick-off their quest for a third successive Leinster Schools’ Junior Cup in successful fashion

Clongowes made a bright start with a fourth-minute penalty from Ben O’Shea, before ’Rock captain Liam Turner crossed for a try after 11 minutes

Three penalties by out-half Joey Caputo and another converted score from flanker Michael McGagh provided Blackrock with a 23-3 interval platform. Lock Daniel Beggs and replacement David O’Connor scored tries for a determined Clongowes in the second period, but it wasn’t enough to halt Blackrock’s march to the last-eight.

Scorers for Blackrock College: L Turner, M McGagh try each, J Caputo 3 pens, 2 cons.

Scorers for Clongowes Wood: D Beggs, D O’Connor try each, B O’Shea pen, con.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: N Brady; A Thompson, L Turner, R Hally-Doody, D Colgan; J Caputo, L O’Reilly; G Coyne, S Molony, T Clarkson; T Godson-Treacy, J Stapleton; J Burke, M McGagh, L McMahon.

Replacements: H Donnolly for O’Reilly (40), J Tarrant for Caputo (43), R Gallagher for Clarkson (50), M Grogan for Godson-Treacy (52), T Maher for Brady (58), G Jones for Hally-Doody (63).

CLONGOWES WOOD: C Kennelly; A Mullan, J Durkan, B O’Shea, A Langan; J Reilly, C Daly; D Slattery, B Sheehan, J Timmins; D Beggs, T Farrington; L El Sabai, S Ojejinmi, M Martin.

Replacements: J Onyejekwe for Langan (40), M Colivet for Mullan (50), S Donovan for Reilly, C Gallen for Daly (both 54), D O’Connor for Sheehan (58).

Referee: D Philips (Leinster Rugby Referees).