REPORT COURTESY OF THE IRISH TIMES
Charlie Tector holds nerve as Kilkenny hold off Wesley in tight affair
Leinster Schools outhalf Charlie Tector held his nerve to kick Kilkenny into the Senior Cup quarter-final in Donnybrook on Thursday. Leinster League semi-finalists Wesley came into this with a degree of confidence which grew when Tector missed a penalty and their Jack Atkinson didn’t for an early edge.
When Kilkenny hooker Darragh O’Reilly was binned for a high tackle, it opened the door to the possibility to build on a solid start. However, Tector, fullback Jonathan Crossley and wing Adam Strong all looked strong on the ball and Kilkenny has plenty of ideas on how to keep Wesley at bay by keeping the ball to themselves.
The swirling wind was a problem which played havoc with the kicking strategies as both schools looked to probe for openings; Wesley opting for a more direct approach and Kilkenny looking to the wide channels. Wesley number eight Oisín Spain was everywhere, flying into the air to claim a high ball, Tector matching that with one of his own takes in a game of good moments without the continuity to make them matter.
The half-time break gave the respective coaches the breathing space to make adjustments and Kilkenny went after the territory. This paid a seven-point dividend when Tector powered through a tackle and executed an offload for captain Ryan Strong to claim the tonic of a try, Tector converting for the lead in the 42nd minute.
The adrenalin was coursing at this point and Wesley’s Spain, in his eagerness to make a difference, was red-carded for a tip tackle on Joshua Coyle. Wesley reacted well to this setback, moving upfield to set up two scrums inside the 22, Atkinson taking the ball on from the first and O’Reilly infringing after the second to be sent-off for a second yellow.
The body blows were coming thick and fast for Kilkenny as centre Luke Fitzpatrick muscled over for Atkinson’s conversion to make it 10-7 in the third quarter.
Not long after, they were temporarily reduced to 13, replacement Fiach O’Byrne leaving the field for a fierce tackle that looked legal from the stands. It looked a long way back for Kilkenny. Still, Adam Strong put on the pressure to force a scrum and Tector knocked over a penalty in the 63rd minute. He was back again four minutes later to snatch the lead before Kilkenny held out in a hectic endgame.
KILKENNY: J Crossley; G Edogun, M Hodgins, R Strong (capt), A Strong; C Tector, J Coyle; S Neale, D O’Reilly, C Chamney; N Pim, J Caldbeck; J Treacy, R Jacob, J Akanji-Murphy.
Replacements: H Dawson for Edogun (17 mins, temp); F O’Byrne for Jacob (48); L Foot for Coyle (59).
WESLEY: G Dunne; A Galbraith, L Fitzpatrick, T Elliott, J Matchette; M Collins, J Atkinson; P Costello (capt), C Gilmer, J Fish; K Wallace, S Cronin; T Geoghegan, D Campbell, O Spain.
Replacements: S Verdon for Collins (27 mins); M Collins for Cronin (48); T Durham for Dunne (63).
Referee: P O’Connor (Leinster Branch).
PICTURE GALLERY AVAILABLE HERE COURTESY OF DERYCK VINCENT
- Category: Rugby
Both our SCT and JCT squads are in the final stages of their preperations for their first round cup games in the next fortnight. Both teams have achieved some promising results over Munster and Leinster schools during December and January. Both teams would welcome your support on the following dates below.
Our Senior Cup Team play Wesley College in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Senior Schools Cup on Thursday the 30th of January at 3pm in Energia Park in Donnybrook.
Our Junior Cup Team play Terenure College in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Junior Schools Cup on Wednesday the 5th of February at 3pm in Naas RFC.
- Category: Rugby
Last Thursday saw the opening of a new additional training facility at Kilkenny College. On hand to cut the ribbon of the new facility were a number of past pupils representing the Hockey and Rugby Departments, the College’s two main sports. Representing girls hockey was Charlotte Cope (Class of 2018) captain of the All Ireland Kate Russell winning side from that year. Charlotte was joined by current Irish hockey international Jeremy Duncan (Class of 2012) who currently plays as a professional in the Belgian League with Royal Oreé in Brussels. Representing the Rugby Department was Shane Delahunt (Class 0f 2012),who has played with Connacht for last six years. As it happens both Shane and Jeremy won a Leinster league title at U18 level as Jeremy was a dual player at the time. All three, like many past pupils are regular visitors back to their Alma Mater. Also attending the opening were captains of a number of boys and girls hockey teams as well as captains of girls and boy’s rugby teams, as well as many coaches.
Speaking at the opening Headmaster Simon Thompson said :”This facility has been provided for our teams to support their health and fitness throughout the course of their seasons play. Our board wishes to ensure our sports teams can be the best they can be, fit ,healthy and supplement free, ready and able to compete against any other school. We are committed to ensuring our teams understand the importance of healthy nutrition and diet while being able to challenge themselves and to perform in competition”
S&C coach Stephen Gray who works with all athletes warmly welcomed the new facility. ”We are incredibly fortunate to have this facility and the support of the College community to develop the potential of all our young athletes whatever their chosen discipline”
More pictures in our picture gallery
- Category: Sport
A full gallery of pictures from the 2019 Kilkenny College Prize day, courtesy of Vicky Comerford, can now be found online. Please click on the picture gallery on the top right hand side of the screen or click on the link below.
- Category: Academic
Due to the large number who have confirmed to attend the AGM and talk by David Coleman will now be held in The Newpark Hotel and not the McAdoo hall as originally advertised. Refreshments from 7pm.
Clinical Psychologist, David Coleman, to address Kilkenny College Parents Association AGM
The Kilkenny College Parents Association has invited Clinical Psychologist, David Coleman to speak to parents at the AGM of the Association on 26th September 2019.
David Coleman is a practicing Clinical Psychologist and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Psychology in UCD. He also presents television programmes, contributes regularly to RTE Radio 1, writes a weekly column for the Irish Independent and has authored three books so far. Best known in Ireland as the presenter of the RTÉ television series Families in Trouble, 21st Century Child, Teens in the Wild and Families in the Wild and most recently Bullyproof
More details will be posted on Facebook and the Website in early September. We hope to see as many parents as possible at the AGM.
For more information : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Category: News