Clonmel High School win all-Tipperary Cleary Cup rugby clash with Coláiste Cahir

Under 15 Munster Schools Cleary Cup

Clonmel High School CBS 34 Coláiste Dún Iascaigh (Cahir) 5

The Clonmel High School CBS Under 15 rugby team had a comprehensive win against Coláiste Dun Iascaigh Cahir on their own 4G rugby pitch last Friday. The result means the High School has now qualified for the semi-final of the Munster Schools Cleary Cup.

The match was played in perfect in conditions in front of a sizeable home crowd of students and staff on their lunch break. The High School began well with some nice interplay between backs and forwards. Following some sustained pressure, High School centre Cody Lee cut through the Coláiste defence to score a fine try under the posts. Outhalf Conor Williams added the conversion to give the High School a 7-0 lead.

The Clonmel school maintained their momentum following the restart and pinned Coláiste in their half with strong carries from captain Mbekezeli Masuku, Natan Gucwa and Jakub Prazan. Prop Tony O’Brien was on hand to power over for the High School’s second try to extend the lead to 12-0.

Just before half-time, a crisp passing move from the backs released winger Alex Pyke from the halfway line to score in the corner to the delight of the home spectators. The High School led 17-0 at the break.

Coláiste showed great character at the start of the second half taking the game to the opposition. A clever move at the front of the line out produced a good try cutting the High School’s lead to 17-5.

The victorious Clonmel High School CBS under 15 Cleary Cup team 

The High School reasserted their control as Conor Williams used the breeze kicking into space. One such kick wasn’t cleared by Coláiste and winger Alex Pyke gathered the ball to score his second try to extend the High School’s lead to 22-5.
Two minutes later, Pyke made a weaving run up the touch line beating several Coláiste defenders to score his hat-rick. Williams kicked the conversion to push the High School 29-5 ahead.

The High School introduced fresh legs from the bench and kept the pressure on Coláiste. Masuku made a great break from a scum on halfway and passed to winger Nathan Sukasuka who thought he had scored only for the referee to call a foot in touch.

From the resulting lineout, the High School won possession and moved the ball wide for centre Jerome Phelan to score his school’s sixth try. The referee blew the full time whistle with the High School winning 34-5.

This was a fine performance from the High School. The result guarantees the winners a home semi-final after mid-term.
Credit is due to both schools for producing a very competitive and sporting match as many of the High School boys are clubmates of boys from Coláiste Dun Iascaigh with Clonmel RFC.

The High School team:
Sean Delahunty, Jakub Prazan, Sam Normile, Mbekezeli Masuku (C), Conall Morrisson, Alex Pyke, Cody Lee, Aidan McMaugh, Patrick Normile, James Blanchfield, Natan Gucwa, Jack Fitzpatrick, Olan Doocey, Conor Williams, Jerome Phelan, Darragh Dempsey, Seb Hopkins, Michael Maher, Tony O’Brien, Aaron Egan, Sean Woods, Jamie Cahill, Callum Condon, Nathan Sukasuka, Jack Prendergast, Conor Corbett.

Upcoming Fixtures:
Wednesday, February 21
U16 Mungret Shield Quarter-Final
High School CBS v Midleton College at Clonmel RFC, 12pm.
U14 Friendly
High School CBS v Midleton College at Clonmel RFC, 12pm.