What. A. Game.
The standard of this competition just keeps getting better and better.
In near-perfect conditions today at Donnybrook, fans were treated to an absolutely enthralling game of rugby which yielded a total of eleven tries.
Safe to say there was no shortage of entertainment.
2016 beaten finalists, Cistercian College Roscrea, were up against Gonzaga College in the quarter-final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
‘Zaga started the match as they meant to go on when they scored two tries in the opening minutes.
However, Roscrea did excellently to fire back with their own scores and they went into the half-time break with a decent lead.
That was as good as it got for Roscrea though, Gonzaga piled on the pressure almost immediately as the second half commenced, scoring three unanswered tries in the process.
Roscrea did get a consolation score before full time was signaled but it was Gonzaga’s day as they ran out 41-24 winners.
There was an incredible level of skill on display throughout the match but one try by Gonzaga definitely caught our eye.
TRY @Gonzagadublin!
48: Roscrea 19-29 Gonzaga. Sensational try from Gonzaga as they open up a 10-point lead. #LSSC https://t.co/Se0pfqJY1X— eir Sport (@eirSport) February 15, 2017
The move was finished off by Gonzaga fly-half Michael O’Kennedy, who kept pace with full-back David Lynch who made a scintillating line break.
The move was started by Lynch of course, as he employed the ‘Sexton Loop’ off a scrum set-piece which unlocked the Roscrea defence.
Check out the similarities between this move and one which has been continuously employed by Ireland under Joe Schmidt.
Uncanny.
Gonzaga’s reward for their incredible performance is a semi-final meeting with competition aristocrats, Blackrock College.
Meanwhile, holders Belvedere will face Clongowes Wood in the other semi-final.
Based on the rugby we have seen so far in this competition, the remaining matches will undoubtedly be belters.
