Defeat for Irish Schools Side
The Irish Schools side fared no better than the senior side when they were beaten 34-13 by the French Schools having trailed 13-10 at half time.
Their first half try came from Jonathan Rockett (pictured) and was converted by David Connellan who also added a penalty.
A couple of early second half tries from the home side gave them the impetus and sufficent control to resist a late Irish rally.
Manager Barney McGonigle was far from downhearted by the outcome. “Disappointed to lose obviously but nevertheless we played well for long periods. We’ll bounce back, regroup in Belfast on Wednesday and prepare for the game against Wales in Ravenhill on Saturday.
Ireland Schools. Eamon Fitzgerald (Belvedere College); Stephen Grissing (St Mary’s College), John Hearty (Blackrock College), Simon Morrissey (Gonzaga College)
Robert Conway (Coleraine A.I.); Thomas Horner (Campbell College), David Connellan Captain (Clongowes Wood College);
Cillian O’Byrne (St Mary’s College), Oliver McCormack (St Mary’s College), Robert Sweeney (St Mary’s College);
Lewis Stevenson (Ballyclare H.S.), Arthur Houlihan (Clongowes Wood College); Kevin McLaughlin (Gonzaga College), David O’Brien (Belvedere College), Jonathan Rockett (St Michael’s College).
Replacements: 16 – Damien Varley (St Munchin’s College), 17 – Jim Mackessey
(Rockwell College), 18 – Niall Conlon (Royal Belfast A.I.), 19 – Ciaran Lennon (St Mary’s College), 20 – Stephen Auld (Royal School Armagh), 21 – Greg Stafford (Castlenock College), 22 -Ken Copeland (Blackrock College).