Defending junior rugby schools champions PBC into final again after big win over Bandon Grammar

Bandon Grammar School 20

PBC 28

DEFENDING champions Presentation Brothers College are through to the final of the Munster Schools Junior Cup after a comprehensive display against Bandon Grammar School at Virgin Media Park on Wednesday and will now face old rivals CBC in the final on 20th March.

Bandon who fancied their chances of causing an upset and reaching their first ever final battled to the finish and made the winners work for their victory.

An excellent penalty kick by Daniel Murphy earned Pres’ a 5 meter line out which Tom Murray won and after several drives at the line Murray touched down and Murphy converted for a 7-0 lead after nine minutes.

Back came Bandon and after a lot of pressure, the ball went out to Nathan van der Westhuizen, who knocked on as he went to ground the ball.

In the 18th minute the sides were level, when Bandon center Illan Smith picked up a loose ball in his own half and raced through a gap to score under the posts. Jamie Hicks converted.

Pressure by Pres’ saw Murphy being held up short of the line and when the ball was recycled Rory Cahill came close to scoring.

However the Mardyke side were rewarded when Alex Moloney found a gap to score and Murphy added the extras four minutes before the interval.

Bandon were back on the attack from the restart put Pres’ scrum half Liam O’Brien was doing a lot of tidying up as Pres’ led 14-7 at the interval.

Bandon’s issues at the line out continued on the resumption but Harry McCourt the West Cork side’s full back was dealing capably under the high ball.

The Mardyke side increased their lead in the 38th minute when Murphy raced through the Bandon defence to score, and he also converted.

A great drive by the Bandon pack brought play close to the Pres’ 22, where Hicks added a penalty to leave the City side 21-10 ahead.

The holders were spreading the ball wide at every opportunity, but the final pass was going astray.

Moloney scored his second try on 54 minutes, as he burst through the Bandon defence and Murphy converted to make it 28-10.

Bandon fought to the finish and were rewarded with two tries, Alexander Bramoulle finished off a sweeping Bandon move and in the eleventh minute of added time Sam Barry touched down to leave the final score 28-20 in Pres’ favour.

Scorers for Bandon Grammar School: I Smith, A Bramoulle, S Barry tries, J Hicks con, pen.

PBC: A Moloney 2 tries, D Murphy try, 4 cons, T Murray try.

Bandon Grammar School: H McCourt; J Hicks, I Smith, D Fuller, N van der Westhuizen; S Barry, L Linehan; J Deasy, A Barry, J van Niekerk; J Symington, S Brady; A White, A Gambura, D Hyde.

Replacements: R Hall, M Whelton, M Buttimer, D Kent, C Beecher, F Lucey, B McLaughlin, A Bramoulle, C Johnston, R Long.

PBC: D Murphy; J Ryan, A Moloney, H Galvin Carty, G Coughlan; D Nolan, L O’Brien; D O'Mahony, R Twomey, R Cahill; C McLoughlin, R MacFarlane O'Shea; B O'Connell, B Waters, T Murray.

Replacements: O O'Keeffe, N MacCarthy, T Laverty, B St. Ledger, D Leane, T Kelly, C Sheahan, O Naughton, R Sheehan, M McCarthy.

Referee: N Kendall (MAR).