U-14 Munster Schools Cleary Cup

Waterpark College 0 – 31 High School CBS

On Tuesday 3^rd March, the High School u-14 team travelled to Waterford to take on Waterpark College in their first group game of this year’s Cleary Cup.

To say conditions were awful would be an understatement. Icy rain poured down for the duration of the game and the pitch deteriorated very quickly.

Nonetheless, the game was played with great spirit by both teams. Players and coaches alike deserve commendation for enduring the elements until the final whistle.

From the beginning, the High School’s bigger pack controlled proceedings, revelling in the mucky conditions. After some good driving by Danny McCarthy and Joel O’Dywer, Ian Gibbs used his strength to crash over the line for the High School’s first try.

Waterpark were keen to move the ball wide at every opportunity. The High School defence worked well to keep them at bay. To the fore were Luke O’Neill, Sean Twomey and Tomas Cooney.

Just before halftime, some clever play by outhalf Dylan Cadogan released Twomey to score under the posts for his first try of the day. Cadogan converted to leave the score 12-0 at the break.

On the restart, Waterpark increased their effort but to little effect. The High School line remained intact. A notable feature of the High School play was their tackling which was the basis for their victory.

As the second half wore on, the High School plugged away at the Waterpark line. Captain Stephen Dooley marshalled his players well. Wingers Dan Walsh and Dermot Ryan were a constant threat, with Ryan scoring a fine try after a clever cross-field kick from Cadogan. In the meantime, Twomey scored two more tries to complete his hatrick.

For their first match, this was an impressive result away from home in terrible conditions. Obviously, there is room for improvement, but overall it was a good team performance. Coaches Jean Lonergan and Brendan Mullan were delighted with the result.

There are tougher games ahead, the next being at home to St. Augustine’s, Dungarvan on Monday 16^th March. The match is on in Clonmel RFC, kick off at 1.30pm.

The High School team was:

1. Ian Gibbs 2. Kevin McMahon 3. Mohamed Elkanzi 4. Andrew Ware 5. Danny McCarthy 6. James Butler 7. Stuart Macleod 8. Joel O’Dywer 9. Stephen Dooley (c) 10. Dylan Cadogan 11. Dan Walsh 12. Luke O’ Neill  13. Sean Twomey  14. Dermot Ryan  15 Tomas Cooney

Reserves

Andrew Prout, Jason Ryan, Cormac Fahey, Zbigniew Lukasinski, Alex Sheehan, Colin Delahunty, James Hannan, Aidan Rea, Eoin Lynch.

U-18 Munster Schools O’Gorman Plate Quarter Final

Carrigaline Community School 12 – 29 High School CBS

On Thursday 12^th of March, the High School senior rugby team travelled to Cork to play Carrigaline Community School in the quarter final of the Munster Schools O’Gorman Plate.

In near perfect playing conditions, the High School took to the field to face a determined Carrigaline side with sizeable home support. It was the Cork side that had the better start and only for some last ditch defending by Thomas Donnelly, Carrigaline came within inches of scoring.

Having withstood the initial assault, the High School gathered themselves to put some good passages of play together. Following a scrum in the opposition 22, the High School kept it tight picking and driving. High School captain Mark Corby got the vital touch down to score his and his team’s first try of the day. Aldo Matassa kicked the conversion.

Now in their stride, the High School showed a willingness to move the ball at pace. Scrumhalf Stephen O’Sullivan gave his backs good supply, while centres Liam Glendon and Luke Hogan were linking well causing the Carrigaline defence lots of trouble. After a period of High School pressure, winger Eoin Fox managed to evade several defenders to score a try. Matassa kicked the conversion to give his side a 14-0 lead at the break.

After the restart, Carrigaline pushed for an early score to get back into the game. And their efforts were rewarded after some poor defending allowed them to touch down between the posts, to the delight of their large crowd of supporters.

The High School rallied however. In the pack, Adam Crotty and Tony Cantwell were impressive in attack and defence. Cian Tobin and Colm Nolan were solid in the backs. Conor Murphy, who gave a very assured performance at full back, replaced Nolan, following an injury. Despite Carrigaline having a big heavy pack, the High School was more than a match. Mark Corby lead by example scoring two further tries leaving the score 24-7.

Carrigaline still made a game of it by scoring a second try. But Stephen O’Sullivan made sure of the win by scoring the High School’s fifth try just before the final whistle.

Considering the lads have not played a game since December, this was an impressive result away from home. As ever there is room for improvement but the mood is good now going into the semi final against Patrician Academy, Mallow or St. Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh. The semi final will be played at Clonmel RFC the week of March 23^rd.

The High School team was:

1. Eoin Marsh 2. Jamie Driver 3. Brendan Foley 4. Jack Doyle 5. Tony Cantwell 6. Thomas Donnelly       7. Adam Crotty 8. Mark Corby (c) 9. Stephen O’Sullivan 10. Aldo Matassa 11. Cian Tobin 12. Liam Glendon 13. Luke Hogan 14. Eoin Fox 15. Colm Nolan.

Replacements:

Ruairdhi de Leaster, Sean Kelly, Donnachadh Powell, Craig Todd, Conor Acheson, James Drake, Conor Murphy, William McGuire, Dan Kennedy.