Tipperary Rugby: High School recover from 21-0 down to win 12-try cup thriller

U15 McCarthy Cup
High School CBS 38 Glenstal Abbey 36

The High School welcomed Glenstal Abbey to Clonmel RFC last Wednesday in our second McCarthy Cup match. Following on from our comprehensive win away to Villiers School in Limerick the previous week, the High School knew this would be a more difficult test and indeed the match did not disappoint ending in a 12-try thriller.

Glenstal raced into a 21-0 lead after ten minutes courtesy of three converted tries from their very clinical backs. The High School settled into the game and gradually got better field position resulting in two tries from High School captain Mbekezeli Masuku. Conall Morrisson converted one leaving the half time score 21-12 to the visitors.

The High School began the second half well with winger Cody Lee scoring in the corner reducing Glenstal's lead to 21-17.
However Glenstal came storming back to score two more tries to push them further ahead 31-17.

This was a classic arm wrestle between two evenly matched sides. A long kick into the Glenstal 22 wasn't dealt with properly and Jerome Phelan pounced to score the High School's fourth try. Conall Morrisson added the conversion to close the gap to 31-24.
A moment of magic from Morrisson minutes later saw him weave his way through the Glenstal defence to score a try under the posts. He kicked the conversion to tie the match 31 all.

Glenstal refused to give up and in a sweeping back line move they found space out wide to score their sixth try in the corner pushing them back in front 36-31.

There was four minutes left on the clock so the High School worked their way back up the pitch with strong carries from Mbekezeli Masuku, Natan Gucwa and Aaron Egan. They got within five metres of the Glenstal posts. High School prop Tony O'Brien crashed over to score his team's sixth try. Man of the Match Morrisson added the conversion to give the High School a 38-36 victory.

This was a fantastic rugby match and credit is due to both teams for serving up such an entertaining game.

The High School U15 Rugby team:
James Blanchfield, Patrick Normile, Tony O'Brien, Jakub Prazan, Natan Gucwa, Seb Hopkins, Aaron Egan, Billy Cooney, Conor Corbett, Conor Williams, Michael Maher, Conal Morrison, Ben Tierney, Jack Fitzpatrick, Jamie Cahill, Olan Doocey, Sam Normile, Mbekezeli Masuku, Alex Pyke, Calum Condon, Jerome Phelan, Cody Lee, Darragh Dempsey, Nathan Sukasuka.