RUGBY LEINSTER SCHOOLS' CUP: Terenure College 17 Blackrock College 11A HEROIC 50-metre surge from blindside Harrison Brewer was the moment of magic that set up winger Philip Smith for a glorious match-winning try to send Terenure College into the Powerade Leinster Schools' Junior Cup final in a pulsating finish at Donnybrook yesterday.
Terenure will return to the same venue on Sunday week to tackle St Michael’s College in what is sure to be a battle royal. If it is half as good as this it will be one to see.
There was a tentative start with both sides going through a feeling-out process in the first quarter before Blackrock began to settle into their stride.
When Terenure drifted up offside, fullback Jack O’Carroll didn’t have to be asked twice to slot a 21st-minute penalty.
Within five minutes, Terenure right wing Smith gobbled up a loose clearance to cut a path through the midfield.
Flanker Brewer, the son of Scotland forwards coach Mike, was on hand for continuity purposes. He was never going to have the gas to go the whole way. It was just as well centre Andy Donoghue turned up on his shoulder to take the ball home for an electrifying try for a 5-3 lead.
A second body blow arrived with the next attack as Terenure number eight Niall Lalor broke down the blindside for what looked like a sneaky gain of yards. But, he was not content with that, fending off two challengers to make the line for a second unconverted try.
The next score would be crucial. It went the way of Blackrock when a dubious penalty was awarded for hands in a ruck that did not seem to be formed. That didn’t bother O’Carroll as he reduced the gap to four points.
Then, a simple blindside move enabled scrumhalf Andrew Quirke to almost put wing Daniel Carr in at the corner. It prompted two five-metre scrums and a barrage of pick and drives that ended with Terenure outhalf Danny McCormack lashing the ball into the stands.
The reprieve didn’t last long as a ground-devouring maul created pressure. A penalty was conceded to trigger a set move from the tap that concluded with tighthead Adam Boland claiming a try and the lead in the 45th minute.
Shortly afterwards, Terenure centre Colin Jones could not find the range from a distant penalty and Blackrock lock Gavin Thornbury was held up over the line. It was becoming frantic as the game wound down into a “next-score-wins” scenario.
It built to a marvellous crescendo as Terenure did everything they could to lift the seige and Blackrock strained every sinew to keep them under control.
It took the break from Brewer to do the trick. He covered 50 metres in the blink of an eye to hand the baton to Smith who plunge over the line.
TERENURE COLLEGE:J Wright; P Smith, S O'Neill, A Donoghue, C Jones; D McCormack, G Clarkin; D Hynes, S Purcell, C Owens, A Somerville, R Somerville, H Brewer, M Hayes, N Lalor (capt). Replacements: A Trimble for Jones, S Borza for Purcell (both 51 mins), S Croke for Hayes (59 mins).
BLACKROCK COLLEGE:J O'Carroll; D Carr, J Dempsey, G Walsh, K O'Leary; P Robb, A Quirke; M Carroll, J Sexton, A Boland, G Thornbury, P Moloney, T Suttor, C Kilcoyne (capt), P Hinkson. Replacements: A Carroll for Hinkson 38 mins), F Bolger for Suttor, J Reynolds for Walsh (both 59 mins).
Referee:B O'Keeffe (Leinster Branch).
