U20 McCorry Cup Quarter-final Match Report: Blackrock College 31 – 33 Old Belvedere

U20 McCorry Cup Quarter-final Match Report:
Blackrock College R.F.C. 31 – Old Belvedere R.F.C. 33
Sunday 22nd March, Stradbrook.
KO: 15:00

This match marked our third competitive encounter with Blackrock this season, with each team having secured a win in the previous two games. However, this one was the most important. Cup rugby is unforgiving: a win keeps your season alive, but a loss means packing away your boots until pre-season.

Blackrock hit their straps early with their scrum-half kicking a 50-22 in the 6th minute. Opting for a 6-man line-out, Rock secured possession and fed their powerful Kiwi No.8 in midfield. As he took out 3 defenders, an attacker ran a dummy line which confounded the Belvo defence. That left space for their loosehead to take a short pass round the corner, and he galloped in under the posts. The conversion was good. 7 – 0 Blackrock.

In the 11th minute, Rock crossed the whitewash again. From a line-out on the halfway, the Rock scrum-half dummied and sniped through a gap. The supporting runner was hit hard by the energetic No.6 Matthew Ruddy in a try-saving tackle, but the ball was recycled through several phases before Rock eventually found a gap in the defensive line. The extras were added bringing the score to 14 – 0.

Old Belvedere hadn’t seen much of the ball at this stage, but from the restart the Rock clearance was half blocked. Seizing the opportunity, the ball was eventually moved wide through quick hands and into open space where Belvo’s electric fullback, Finn Kehoe received the ball on the 10m line. With a lot of work to do, Kehoe put on the afterburners. A clever show-and-go bamboozled the two defenders, and he crossed to score near the touchline. Belvo’s fine out-half Finn Byrne succeeded with the difficult conversion to bring the score to 14 – 7.

Belvo struck again in the 20th minute. Winning a line-out on the Rock ’22, the pack mauled into Rock’s ’22. Maintaining their patience, the ball was moved to the narrow side where a long skip pass from vigilant scrum-half Charlie Lyons found No.12 Paddy O’Gorman who unselfishly fed the imposing left wing Jake Dolly in space, and he scored in the corner. Again, No.10 Finn Byrne added the extras with an excellent conversion from the touchline to level the score 14 – 14. He wasn’t to know it, but the two sideline conversions would prove crucial at the end of the match.

Winning a penalty at the breakdown in the 32nd minute, the Blackrock No.10 pointed at the posts. His kick split the posts from 30m out and Rock took a 17 – 14 lead into half time.

Blackrock emerged from half-time full of intent and energy. In the 45th minute the Blue & Whites scored a well-worked try. After several phases in Belvo’s ’22, the Rock scrum-half popped a reverse inside pass to the Rock hooker and Captain. A large gap opened up in the defence and he wrong-footed the last defender to score under the posts. Blackrock now led 24 – 14 and it looked like Belvo had a mountain to climb.

However, that score stung Belvo into action. In the 56th minute, Belvo kicked to touch after winning a penalty at the breakdown. The lineout was secured, but Rock infringed at the maul. The quick-thinking abrasive open-side Ryan Greally took a quick tap, but Rock hadn’t retreated and he was taken down short of the line. Playing with a penalty advantage, Belvo went through several phases before the pack crashed over the tryline with prop Ben Merry emerging with the ball. Rock were reduced to 14 men as a Yellow Card was issued for the infringement and Finn Byrne drilled the ball through the posts to bring the score to 24 -21.

Playing against 14 men, the Black & Whites scored almost immediately from the restart. Finishing scrum-half Danny Benn put up a box-kick that was spilled by the Rock full-back. No.8 Seán Killeen was on hand to scoop up the bouncing ball, and he fed the hard-charging No.13 Aidan O’Flanagan who outpaced the defence to score. The conversion sailed wide, but the score was 24 – 26.

Thing got worse for Rock in 63rd minute when they won a scrum on Belvo’s 10m line. Not having any front-row subs, they had to drop to 13 men and the scrums went uncontested. Unfortunately, the Black & Whites couldn’t take advantage of their numerical superiority and had a try ruled out for a forward pass in the corner.

This game wasn’t doing anything for the collective blood pressure of the spectators and coaches. In the 73rd minute, and back to their full complement, Blackrock scored their 4th try of the afternoon. Winning a line-out on Belvo’s 10m line, Blackrock’s dangerous scrum-half made a break which brought play into Belvo’s ’22. After several phases, Rock eventually drove over the whitewash to score under the posts. The extras were added, and Blackrock led 31 – 26 with 7 minutes left on the clock.

However, the boys in Black & White weren’t done yet. Winning a penalty for a high tackle that resulted in a Yellow Card for Rock’s powerhouse No.8, Belvo kicked to touch. The ball was kept in play, and Belvo fielded the relieving kick in the backfield. Seeing space on the short side, centre Paddy O’Gorman skipped out of a couple of tackles before feeding finishing hooker Paddy McGrath who put in a delightful chip that Ollie Campbell himself would be proud of. The ball bounced up into the hands of No.8 Seán Killeen. Blackrock weren’t to know it, but Killeen is a double All-Ireland 100m & 200m relay champion sprinter. Carl Lewis might have struggled to catch him as he scorched the defenders to dot down over the whitewash. Finn Byrne made sure of the extras, leaving the score at 33 – 31.

There were still 3 minutes left to play, and no one was counting any chickens. Playing with grit, determination and belief, the Black & Whites maintained their discipline to close out a hard-won victory. Ther reward is a semi-final meeting with Clontarf, provisionally scheduled for 19th April. The lads are relishing the challenge.

Man of the Match: No.8 Seán Killeen.

Photo: cWritten by: Adam Mac Nulty