Blackrock’s Backs Lord It Over ‘Wegians
Blackrock College moved back into the top four in AIB League Division One with a power-packed bonus point win over a leaden-footed Galwegians side at Stradbrook.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, March 7
BLACKROCK COLLEGE 48 GALWEGIANS 10, Stradbrook
Scorers: Blackrock College: Tries: Stanley McDowell 2, Niall Morris 2, David Rowan, Simon Morrissey; Cons: Darragh Fitzpatrick 3; Pens: Darragh Fitzpatrick 4
Galwegians: Try: Alex O’Sullivan; Con: Robert O’Beirn; Pen: Robert O’Beirn
‘Wegians simply could not cope with the passing skills and lightning quick attacks from the Blackrock back-line, led by out-half Darragh Fitzpatrick and scrum half David Moore.
The Dubliners were 26-0 to the good at half-time, with centre Stanley McDowell and winger Niall Morris bursting through for a try apiece and Fitzpatrick kicking two conversions and four penalty goals.
Full-back Rob O’Beirn kicked a penalty for ‘Wegians to give them some hope on the restart.
The westerners, who have been sucked back towards the relegation zone, did themselves no favours, however, when lacklustre defending allowing Morris and McDowell over for two quick-fire tries.
Neither was converted, leaving it 36-3 in ‘Rock’s favour.
The visitors did manage to up the tempo, midway through the second half. Blackrock flanker Zack Farivarz was sin-binned and Galwegians replacement hooker Alex O’Sullivan burrowed his way over for a converted try.
But errors soon crept back into the Galway side’s game and ‘Rock regained control of possession to take their try tally to six.
Replacement winger David Rowan made use of an overlap to round in close to the posts, allowing Fitzpatrick an easier conversion, and then centre Simon Morrissey, a Trojan worker all afternoon, nipped over in injury-time for a deserved try.