A late try from Christopher Barrett was enough to see Christian Brothers College snatch a one point win over rivals Presentation Brothers College in Musgrave Park.

Trailing 19-5 at the break, they manged to come back and then trail again before eventually getting the deceive score, with the boot of Benjamin Lynch also being a huge asset for them.

It was a game of pageantry and the atmosphere only made the entertainment on the field more intense, two rivals locking horns and then in the end only one would prevail as CBC march into the Semi with PBC meeting the winners of tomorrow's Quarter Final eliminator.

From the first kick PBC were on the back foot but a call for a penalty allowed them to clear the lines early and try get an attack going, Harry Murphy looked to have shanked the penalty as it skidded along the artificial surface to the waiting CBC man, after a quick maul again they were penalised with Ben O’Connor this time eyeing up the posts this time, but his effort dragged short.

An early let off on the scoreboard but PBC still had possession, after winning a lineout their powerful maul pushed CBC back inside their own 22, several phases transpired before the referee again awarded them a penalty. Kicking again to the corner their lineout was timed to perfection but CBC would win a penalty in the breakdown to clear their lines.

15 minutes of highly energetic rugby but the scoreline remained untouched, the hosts were ferocious at either end the action remained free flowing CBC had a great chance off a penalty having pinned PBC back in their own half, but a knock on later and Christians conceded the scrum.

The atmosphere was electric and something really had to give, Charlie Patrick O’Shea played a cunning kick in behind to try set free Christopher Barrett down the right flank, but PBC full-back O’Connor managed to gather but ran into touch, the resulting lineout went CBC’s way as their maul edged forward and in the end Daniel Rock powered over from close range for a try in the 20th minute, Benjamin Lynch would miss the conversion but the try helped them settle into the game with a 5-0 advantage.

PBC now found themselves behind and needed a spark to ignite, it was a slow burner during the passages of play that followed the try, but in a flash they broke stride and raced through the Christian’s defence, O’Connor absorbed contact and offloaded to James Wixted to cross in the corner, the game back level by the half hour mark as O’Connor missed the conversion.

Momentum was with last year’s runners up and two minutes from time they were in again, carving the Christians defence open they offloaded to the far side with space opening up and Tom Coughlan used his pace to race in and touch down, O’Connor adding the extras for a 12-5 lead.

Now ahead for the first time PBC had produced a miraculous comeback in the final minutes of the half, more was to come CBC scrum half Jack Casey misjudged a pass that came off his body, it bounced behind kindly for Alex Alderson to kick forward but he was tackled to the ground with CBC able to regain possession shy of their line, as it looked save Murphy jumped over the maul and managed to touch down for their third try, O’Connor had a difficult conversion from near the sideline but his effort was pinpoint to see PBC lead 19-5 at the interval.

After enduring a 19 point turnaround to end the opening half CBC started again the brighter early on, PBC number 8 Rory O’Shaughnessy looked to scampreed a run off the restart but knocked on, CBC then turned things around to go up the other end and with a tap and go  penalty shy of the line, a scored looked on the cards but PBC held firm to win a penalty.

CBC would get points on the board as Lynch landed a penalty which resulted from their earlier drive, however a few minutes later they hit back with a try from again their forwards pressing PBC back against the wall on their own line with substitute Adam Wrona powered his way over from close range to bing them right back into the tie, Lynch added the extra two to make it 19-15 after 48 minutes.

Having spent the majority of the second half on the backfoot, out of nowhere PBC crossed for their fourth try, a kick in behind eluded the Christains backline and Liam Tuohy capitalised and raced over the whitewash, the conversion from O’Connor accurate to make it a 26-15 lead on the hour mark.

With ten minutes left it was do or die for a spot in the Semi Finals, CBC hit first blood in those dying minutes their powerful drives were causing massive worry for the PBC defence and Wrona managed to power over for his second try five minutes from time, Lynch making it a four point game off the tee.

Late drama would of course be on the cards, as Christian’s hit a late try, O’Shea kicked a Crossfield kick aimed for Christopher Barrett on the flank, the winger opted volley the pass as it was too low to carry and continue the chance, the kick behind worked wonders deceiving the last man back, Barrett a fourth year student in the school, won the foot race and managed to touch down to put his side ahead by a point, Lynch missed the difficult conversion which followed however and CBC weathered a late nervy couple of phases before the referee drew the game to a conclusion.