Raw power too much for Wesley

Raw power decided yesterday's Leinster Schools Senior Cup match at Donnybrook. Wesley College's courage was inadequate when lumbering giants John Duffy and the particularly impressive Colm McMahon received possession.

Castleknock's huge second-row pairing simply punched holes in Wesley's fringe defence, taking out two or three tacklers: gaps appeared and none exploited the advantage more than number eight Dermot Grimes. The winners had a strong spine which extended from the aforementioned trio to centre William Stafford and fullback Killian Kennedy.

Against less resolute opposition Castleknock could have won with greater facility but Wesley displayed character and pride. Furthermore, Simon Miller, brother of Eric, Mark England and Duncan Parker played with great intelligence and it was David Popplewell, Nick's younger brother, who masterminded many of the side's best moments.

The scrum-half's passing was long and direct, while he had an eye for a gap and nifty footwork. Unfortunately for Wesley, any time they managed to register on the scoreboard, Castleknock had the perfect retort.

They took the lead after four minutes with a try from flanker Andrew Rennicks, the product of a powerful burst by Duffy. John Davis converted. But it was Wesley who struck next when England won a line-out five metres out and Miller cleverly nipped around on an unguarded blind-side to score.

Back came Castleknock. Stafford's angled run on 14 minutes set up a ruck metres from the line and Grimes had the common sense to use the shortside and amble over. David again converted but was unable to do so on 26 minutes when John Lyne crossed after good work by McMahon.

Wesley did manage a Richard Morris penalty in between those tries before closing the gap to a single point with a brace of uncoverted tries by Parker either side of the interval. Unfortunately, having clawed their way back, Wesley then conceded a try almost immediately - Grimes's second. The match ebbed and flowed under the unintrusive direction of former international scrum-half Alain Rolland until Castleknock ensured their progress into the next round with a try from Stafford following a fine Kennedy break. Davis added the conversion from in front of the posts.

Castleknock: K Kennedy; I Hopkins, W Stafford, O O'Donovan, A Lynch; J David, A O'Neill; J Lyne, R ward, R Fallon; J Duffy (capt), C McMahon; B Melvin, D Grimes, A Rennicks. Replacements: P Rehan for Lyne (59 mins), T Foley for Hopkins (78 mins). Wesley: R Morris; S Beck, H Wilkinson, R Brownlee, M Culhane; A Johnston, D Popplewell; I Wallace, K Corrigan, D Parker; R Stephens, G McCluskey (capt); S Miller, M England, L Williams. Replacement: R Cullen for Williams (61 mins).

Referee: A Rolland (Leinster).