Schools Rugby Leinster Senior and Junior cups/CBS Monkstown - 26 King's Hospital - 8: It is unlikely that a more exposed rugby pitch than Seapoint exists anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere but CBC Monkstown never seemed perturbed as they rode the wind into the elite section of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup yesterday.
What was most admirable about the performance was the manner CBC attempted to move the ball wide at every opportunity. The daring tactics yielded four tries that will raise the eyebrows of their next opponents St Mary's. Also, victory sees them progress to the semi-finals of the Vinnie Murray Cup where they face the winners of today's encounter between Templelogue College and Skerries CC.
Considering the gale that howled across the barren landscape was in Monktown's favour in the first-half a 12-point lead seemed paltry. It mattered little though as the score that broke King's Hospital's came three minutes after the break when left wing Ciaran Jones crossed after a turnover and poor tackling allowed outhalf Ken Keogh into space.
Rory O'Connor added his second conversion and, at 19-0, that seemed to be that.
King's Hospital did reduce arrears with a Harry Murphy penalty but a 20-minute gap followed before they scored again, hooker Gavin Telford rising from a mess of bodies with the try.
Still, the beaten side looked a decent unit and the influence of coaches Dan Van Zyl and Ray McIlreavy was evident, especially up front where lock Mark Jones and James Brady were willing carriers.
An early try by CBC captain Peadar Nolan set the tone for the afternoon. From a five-metre scrum he switched blind to skid over unopposed.
Then on the half hour his centre partner Peter McLoughlin profited from a clever pass out of the tackle by number eight Paul Grannell.
The final blow came deep in injury time as right winger Alan McLoughlin intercepted on half way to race clear under the posts.
Scoring sequence: 10mins: P Nolan try, 5-0; 30: P McLoughlin try, 10-0; R O'Connor conv, 12-0. 38: C Jones try, 17-0; R O'Connor conv, 19-0; 49: H Murphy pen, 19-3; 69: G Telford try, 19-8; 75: A McLoughlin try, 24-8; R O'Connor conv, 26-8.
CBC MONKSTOWN: R O'Connor; A McLoughlin, P McLoughlin, P Nolan (capt), C Jones; K Keogh, P Woods; M Murdock, B Clarke, T Fayne; D Clarke, C Shiel-Drohan; C O'Raghallaigh, P Grannell, P Roberts. Replacements: M Kilty for C Shiel-Drohan, S Verso for B Clarke (47 mins).
KING'S HOSPITAL: P Donovan; J Pearson, L Feighery, C Coyle, B Kontur; H Murphy, S Murphy; G Moran (capt), G Telford, J Brady; M Jones, B White; R Evans, K Young, J Marron. Replacements: R Wallace for K Young (27 mins), T Speirs for J Pearson (half-time), L Ashby for R Evans (47 mins), A Dolan for J Marron (52 mins), A Taylor for B White, J Mills for S Murphy (67 mins).
Referee: R O'Flynn (Leinster Branch).
