SCC
Archive > Sports > Rugby
Senior Perpetual Cup Rugby Sevens Tournament
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
By Louise Browne
Defending champions Colaiste Ide knew they faced tough opposition against Ballsbridge College and Inchicore College in their attempt to retain their title, a task made even harder by the strong cross winds and heavy downpours at last week’s tournament in the CYM sports grounds in Terenure.
Yet despite the heavy conditions the Finglas College produced three top performances to take home the CDVEC SCC Rugby Sevens’ Perpetual Cup for the second year running.
Ide’s captain Dan Blanaru, one of only three surviving players, the others being Glenn Predy and Gary Oxberry, from last year’s winning side said “We were happy that we had the games and thanks to the lads because we where all here just to play.
It doesn’t always matter who wins it’s more important to play and we all had great fun. But I’m also glad because we managed to retain the trophy for the second year in a row”.
Colaiste Ide faced Ballsbridge in their first fixture and fell behind to a fifth minute try from Robert Tiernan, with the Dublin 4 student running from deep inside his own 22. On the stroke of half time the holders where back in the game courtesy of a fine effort from Peter Carr.
Two second half tries from Mark Reid, impressive at full back throughout the competition, with last year’s captain Predy going over in between Reid’s brace handed them the win despite Kevin Twomey’s earlier effort for Ballsbridge.
Both Ballsbridge and Inchicore knew a win was a must in the next game and it was the Dublin 4 college who got off to the perfect start with Tiernan crossing over, his captain Stephen O’Brien’s pass setting him up.
Inchicore hit back straight from the restart with a try from Sean Moore but five unanswered tries from Kevin Ryan, McCann, Tiernan’s second and a double from Twomey rapped up the points for Ballsbridge.
Going into the final game against Inchicore College Colaiste Ide knew a win would hand them the title and John Comerford led the way by scoring early on for the Finglas outfit.
Despite horrendous conditions both sets of players stuck to their game plans with strong defensive play to the fore. The Northside College, who had their backs to the wall, turned the ball over deep in their own 22.
Comerford laid the ball off to Predy out on the right, the Clontarf flanker found the full back Reid who took off down the side line leaving everyone in his wake to score Ide’s second try, moments later Predy crossed for their third to successfully defend their rugby sevens’ title.
Winners Colaiste Ide: D Blanaru (capt), M Reid, J Comerford, P Carr, G Oxberry, G Predy, N McCann, A Kearney, S Clarke, S Moore, S Lyons.
Runners Up Ballsbridge: S O’Brien (capt), V Kenny, K Ryan, J Burke, M Rooney, K Twomey, R Tiernan, C Answorth.
Listen
to this page: |
|
Change
font size: |
|