Greystones take the spoils against Blackrock

Greystones 23 Blackrock College 22

Greystones secured a valuable win over an in-form Blackrock College side at Dr Hickey Park this afternoon.

The result sees 'Stones move off the bottom of the Division One table.

Blackrock threatened to run riot as their wingers Niall Morris and David Rowan pocketed two tries apiece.

The visitors led 22-13 at the break but a poor kicking display from full-back Fionn Carr saw them falter.

In the end, a converted try from stand-in captain Stuart Abbott and penalty from out-half James Power drove the Wicklow men to victory.

This was Greystones' first home win of the league season and a richly deserved one after previous near misses.

In truth, had Blackrock full-back Fionn Carr brought his kicking boots to the seaside town, 'Rock would probably have held on for the win.

But Carr, a usually reliable place-kicker, missed six shots at the posts throughout the match, including one effort from just in front of the uprights which would have probably sealed the result.

'Stones made a stunning start and were 13 points up in as many minutes. Inside centre Aaron Higgs charged over after the hosts' impressive half-backs James Power and the Leinster-capped Cillian Willis had spotted space out to the left off a scrum.

Power, the son of the club's current President Pierce, kicked the conversion and was also successful with two penalty chances.

However, all 'Stones' good work was undone when some lacklustre defending out wide allowed 'Rock's speedy backs to cut loose.

Morris, who is hoping to start next week for the Ireland Under-20s against Italy, finished off two breaks from the 'Rock rearguard and his right wing counterpart Rowan was equally as effective in his finishing.

Carr could only convert one of those tries to give his side a 22-13 advantage for the break but there looked to be more to come from a lively 'Rock side that once again included Shane Byrne and Des Dillon.

But the visitors, whose scrum struggled at times, fell away in the second half as 'Stones upped the gears.

Outside centre John Quigley did go close to notching the Dubliners' fifth try but it was Colin McEntee's charges who bagged the half's only try.

Flanker Stuart Abbott, a very able captain in the injury-enforced absence of Neil Megannety, muscled his way over the whitewash after 'Rock scrum half David Moore had been driven off the ball.

That score came while 'Rock were down to 14 men but the hosts did not care and Power's conversion and penalty was enough for them to see out a long-awaited home win.

Scorers:

Greystones: Tries: Aaron Higgs, Stuart Abbott; Cons: James Power 2; Pens: James Power 3 Blackrock College: Tries: Niall Morris 2, David Rowan 2; Con: Fionn Carr

HT: Greystones 13 Blackrock College 22