Leinster Rugby vs DHL Stormers

Gonzaga win Senior Cup
for the first time!
BY DES BERRY
Gonzaga College 35
Blackrock College 31
Surely, there can
be no better way
to shed the tag
of ‘nearly men’
than to outplay
the kingpins in a
classic Bank of
Ireland Leinster
Schools final
at The RDS on St
Patrick’s Day.
Captain Paul Wilson walked
forward to cradle Gonzaga’s first
Senior Cup after a journey that
started long before the players
were born.
From the moment Conor O’Shaughnessy
fielded Hugo McLaughlin’s garryowen,
Blackrock powered through a series of
phases from their own 22, using the inside
ball from out-half O’Shaughnessy to a
barrage of runners.
It exposed vulnerability on the fringes, the
inevitable try coming from number eight
Tom Brigg for Oliver Coffey to convert in
the third minute.
The sense of deja vu from last year
was quickly dispelled when Stephen
McMahon pierced the cover to have
‘Rock on their heels, a penalty coming
their way.
It wasn’t a day to play the percentages.
The ball was angled to touch where the
maul was stalled.
No matter, a flat ball to McLaughlin was
all that was needed for the full-back to
bounce a tackle, McMahon’s conversion
tying it up.
It was a million miles an hour as
Blackrock tracked McLaughlin’s glorious
lines, leaving room for hooker Luke
McLaughlin to make a burst.
Twice Gonzaga was given penalties for
educated pressure. Twice, they came to
nothing. Even so, they were taking the
fight to the champions.
Once the wheels of ‘Rock’s carrying
game were put in motion, the undeniable
power through contact made it easier to
generate metres.
34 | www.leinsterrugby.ie