Details
Date | Time | Competition | Season |
---|---|---|---|
2 February 2023 | 3:00 pm | Leinster Schools Senior Cup | 2022/23 |
Match Report
St Mary's College advanced to the next stage of the Leinster Senior Schools Cup as they produced a second half comeback aided by a late penalty try to snatch a five point win over Wesley College this afternoon. They came in as favourites and left as victors after a tough battle between the two, an all out slug fest that resulted in Mary's getting into the Quarter Final stage, despite a hattrick by Rian Hanley and the boot of Charlie Hempenstall Wesley just fell short in the end despite an incredible display. Marys applied early pressure as both deployed an early kicking game to try gain ground, it was Mary’s who would get the closest early on to creating danger in the early stages of crafting a score but an error in the build up awarded Wesley a scrum to clear their lines. A strong scrum saw the underdogs able to get out of their own 22m line as full-back Finn Nolan raced away before he booted into the Mary’s half, with a penalty awarded a short while later Charlie Hempenstall found touch close to the Mary’s line as they went in search of the breakthrough, after the resulting scrum Wesley drove from close range looking to break through a solid wall, phase after phase Mary’s did well to stop on the onslaught but the frame of hooker Rian Handley managed to cross the whitewash after eight minutes, Hempenstall added the extras for a 7-0 lead. Having gone behind early Mary’s now needed to find something to get back into the tie, after a line out shy of the try line, camped close as their forwards tried to give them good ground to make use of their close possession, centre Evan Moynihan made a strong run toward the maul he gathered the pass from scrum half Luke McGill, broke through two tacklers and exploited space in the Wesley line he was unmarked and avoid one final effort from the Wesley defensive line to get their opening try, the conversion was successful however it was converted by hooker, yes hooker Cillian Jacobs as he levelled matters in the 12th minute. Wesley felt they had done enough a short while later to regain their lead in the tie, another strong drive left them short of the Mary’s line, Hempenstall was again key in the build up as his pass went out wide looking to spot their man out wide, it slipped through the hands of Daniel McNulty who was covering the area and allowed Evan Pearson the opportunity to gather and snipe over for a try, however the referee called it back as the pass was deemed to have been forward with the score remaining all square. With half time approaching as ten minutes was all that was left in the half, Mary’s hit the front with their second try of the contest, captain Lucca Jennings the man to eventually get over after Mary’s worked their phases after a strong lineout move, a score looked to be coming and Jennings was the difference as his close range drive was enough to out them seven ahead after another beautiful conversion by Jacobs. Mary’s really found their feet in the final minutes of the half, on the half hour mark they got their third try of the contest, again a closer range maul with their forwards putting in a huge effort to power over a score, after some time and effort Luke McGill dotted over after picking and going from close range, this strike was further out for Jacobs but the hooker made it look easy. A high scoring opening half of rugby had time for another late twist, Wesley aided by a beautiful kick in behind by Hempenstall and some basketball moves to keep possession for their side, it was the Hanley brothers as Oran fed Rian to get his second try in the final act of the half with Hempenstall converting for a 21-14 deficit at the interval. Hanley completed his hattrick just minutes into the second half, the brothers combining once move with a powerful drive as Rian offloaded to Oran he passed back to Rian who pumped the legs and sprinted over his speed and strength combling to keep the tacklers at bay, the impressive Hempenstall three from three off the tee to level matters again. Wesley were full sail ahead making use of a strong breeze blowing across Energia Park, they again pushed Mary’s back with drives from the Hanley brothers giving them ground shy of the posts, they again used those strong phases of play to knock on the door of Mary’s and a drive by Milo Campbell in the 45th minute knocked it off its hinges, crossing for their fourth try of the contest and with Hempenstall in the form of his life, the TY student added another two from the boot to give them another seven point winning margin. This game had everything a real example of just how exciting and competitive school rugby can be, as we ticked past the 50th minute Mary’s sent alarm bells ringing in the Wesley defence, their efforts brought around a penalty but they used that advantage to score almost a carbon copy of their opening try as Moynihan again made a bursting run to gather a pass inside from their close range maul and powered over for their fourth try, Jacobs conversion just kissed the right upright and came back out as Wesley remained in the lead 28-26. After coming so close to levelling matters, Mary’s remained on top looking to get that score which would get them back into the lead, a penalty to touch got them into the close to the line and with a strong lineout move their maul drove Wesley back and after being dragged down illegally the referee awarded them a penalty try with Campbell going to the bin as a result, a huge moment in the final minutes of the game seven left on the clock as Mary’s led by five, 33-28.Late Penalty Try Gets St. Mary’s College Over The Line
Timeline
8' | Rian Handley | |
9' | Charlie Hempenstall | |
Evan Moynihan | 12' | |
Cillian Jacobs | 12' | |
Lucca Jennings | 24' | |
Cillian Jacobs | 25' | |
Luke McGill | 29' | |
Cillian Jacobs | 30' | |
33' | Rian Handley | |
34' | Charlie Hempenstall | |
37' | Rian Handley | |
38' | Charlie Hempenstall | |
Luke Policky Liam Flaherty |
41' | |
Luke McGill Gavin Mulvihill |
41' | |
45' | Milo Campbell | |
46' | Charlie Hempenstall | |
Evan Moynihan | 52' | |
Tiernan O'Shea Fionn Devereux |
59' | |
60' | Finn O'Neill Ed Collins |
|
61' | Oran Handley Ryan Price |
|
63' | Milo Campbell |
Ground
Energia Park |
---|
Energia Park, Donnybrook Road, Pembroke West B ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 T8X2, Ireland |