Wesley College 43 Belvedere College 27
Cool-headed Charlie Hempenstall drove Wesley into the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final claiming 18 points in their win over Belvedere College at Energia Park on Friday afternoon.
The Leinster under-19s outhalf was a step ahead of everyone in engineering the first upset of the competition to make the last eight.
Wesley hit the ground running from the off, working a smart lineout for Tom Burke to go over in the right corner. The touchline conversion proving no problem for Hempenstall.
It wasn’t long before Belvedere captain Charlie Lyons was binned for an illegal tackle and Hempenstall sent Matthew Wystepek over on the right. Hempenstall found the posts from the touchline again for 14-0 in the 13th minute.
He then rubbed salt into Belvedere’s wounds with a 17th minute penalty.
David Gimore was away and a flashy attack ended with Hempenstall arrowing a kick for Wystepek to grab and ground for 22-0 in the 25th minute.
Belvedere finally managed to gather their game, number eight Paul Dunne blasting off the base of a five-metre scrum for a badly needed try.
The Ballinteer school’s quick, clean rucking was the secret to a multi-phase attack finished by prop Evan Caddow, joined by Hempenstall’s extras to make it 29-5 at the break.
Belvedere blasted back into the game as their forwards upped the ante and their backs came alive.
Lorcan Butler’s close-range burst and a similar effort from Cillian McCann delivered two quickfire tries, both converted by Jonathan Garrihy.
The sense of desperation had dissolved as Garrihy was content to add a penalty from a promising position for 17 points in 18 minutes.
Now, the pressure had shifted to Wesley' shoulders. It was then Hempenstall weaved a wonderful pattern for a phenomenal individual try which he also converted.
Then was the calm after the storm. Another fluid move allowed fullback Max Colbert to stroll over on the right, Hempenstall adding the conversion.
A late push from Belvedere saw replacement Eugene Isong claim their fourth try to reduce the deficit to make it a 16-point loss.
WESLEY: M Colbert; M Wystepek, D Gilmore, N Heatley, J Duffy; C Hempenstall, J Freyne; E Caddow, T Burke, J Cullen, A Gordon, I Reid, L L’Estrange, S McMullin (capt), T Campbell.
Replacements: H Shannon for McMullin (40 mins), J Mulhall for Caddow (58), H Jones for Gordon, S Ryan for Freyne (both 66), R Fox for Gilmore (67) C Whelan for L’Estrange (68) R Neill for Cullen, R Dixon for Duffy (both 69).
BELVEDERE: R O' Farrell; M Mason, D Barr, D Lord, J Felle; J Garrihy, C Lyons (capt); R Grant, L Butler, C Quinn, J Travers, C McCann, A Oliver, A Clarke, P Dunne.
Replacements: B Ball for Oliver, A McDonnell for Lyons (both 50 mins); E Isong for Travers (54); J McDonald for Felle (58); A Liddy for Grant, K Russell for Quinn (both 60); M Porter for Garrihy (67).
Referee: R Shaughnessy (Leinster Branch).
Leinster Senior Cup second round draws:
Temple Carrig or St Fintan’s High School v St Vincent’s, Castleknock College
Wesley College v Terenure College
Blackrock College v St Michael’s College
Cistercian College Roscrea v Gonzaga College.
*Games to be played at Energia Park on week commencing Monday, February 10th.
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