Earle doubles up as CBC march past Castletroy into Junior Cup semi-final

The famed Cork side were full value for their victory with substitute James Earle landing two tries. Harry Quinlan also kicked two penalties and a conversion in the one-sided contest.

CHARGING ON: Ruaidhri McElwain, CBC, Cork bursing past Jay Walsh, Castletroy College in the Pinergy Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park, Limerick. Pic: Dan Linehan

CBC 18 Castletroy College 5
CBC are into the Munster Schools Junior Cup semi-final following an 18-5 win over Castletroy College at Thomond Park.

The famed Cork side were full value for their victory with substitute James Earle landing two tries in the victory. Harry Quinlan also kicked two penalties and a conversion in the one-sided contest.

Castletroy dominated the opening exchanges with number eight Conor Ryan carrying hard but were unable to break down a resolute CBC defence.

The early pressure didn’t tell and it was CBC who drew first blood on 18 minutes after Cian Brown was judged to have been offside from a scrum. Christians out half Harry Quinlan then slotted a penalty from 20 metres to give his side a 3-0 advantage.

CBC then turned on the style with a superbly worked try off a scrum on the Castletroy ’22. Tiernan Murphy, Quinlan and Sean Riordan combined to open the door for full back Hugh Downey.

Downey beat a couple of defenders before sending James Earle in the right corner for the try that saw CBC stretch their advantage to eight points.

MAKING ALL THE NOISE: CBC, Cork cheer leaders urge on their side against Castletroy College in the Pinergy Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park, Limerick. Pic: Dan Linehan

CBC looked dangerous from set pieces all throughout the first half and were nearly in for a second try on the half hour.

This time it was Shea Lynch that created the gap for Riordan to exploit but he was held up just short of the line. Ruadhri McElwain also went close but was held up over the line right on half time.

It was CBC who got off to a fast start in the second half by virtue of a Quinlan penalty after Castletroy full back Rory O’Dwyer was sent to the sin bin for dissent.

Castletroy reacted positively and pinned CBC in their own ’22 from the restart and were awarded a penalty when Christians strayed offside.

Dannan Glynn kicked to the corner and hooker Aryan Brysz scored on the back of a powerful maul to leave the score at 11-5 in CBC’s favour with 40 minutes played.

However, CBC’s response was swift and lethal. Again the try came from a set-piece move, Earle finishing off for his second try.

Rossa Kinirons cut a brilliant line from Mike Murphy’s pass on the 10-metre line and his offload saw Earle in for the game-winning score. Quinlan’s conversion saw the final score 18-5 in CBC’s favour.

CBC: H Downey; M O’Riordan, R Kinirons, S Lynch, S Riordan; H Quinlan, T Murphy; C Murphy, J Punch, D Field; H Loftus, A Maher; L Carroll, C McCabe, R McElwain.

Replacements: D Caren, L Daly, C Coyne, M Keane, C Kelly, H Lowry-Machie, M Murphy, J Earle, R Ring, J Twomey.

Castletroy College: R O’Dwyer; H Ferte, R Devine, J Prendergast, D Glynn; C Sheehan, C Brown; M Hickey, A Brysz, J Walsh; O Ryan, K Belieki; A O’Connor, C Hogan, C Ryan.

Replacements: H Kett, J Berkery, R McInerney, P Forde, C McDermott, J Michaelcz, T Fogarty, T Cunneen, D Casey, H D’Arcy.

Referee: J Purcell (MAR)