Page 67 - The Gonzaga Record 1987
P. 67
Games
RUGBY NOTES would mean the first ever appearance
of Gonzaga at a semi-final of the Sen-
ior Cup, and likewise a unique encoun-
Senior Cup Season 1986-7 ter at Landsdowne Road.
Though Belvedere had lost to
The 1986-7 season was to prove one of Gonzaga 26-10 previously in the
the most successful ever for a Gonzaga season, only a rash man would have
Senior team, though losing the first given the edge to either side as they
four matches did not seem a good filed out before the Donnybrook
start. stands on 27 February.
The team, with six veterans from the The match started in perfect con-
previous year, (Conn O'Brien, Declan ditions, and twelve minutes into the
Ridge, Patrick Kennedy, John Collins, game Gonzaga were already 4-0 down,
Niall Carney, and Patrick Molloy) after a well-taken try in the corner by
took some time to settle down. As the Belvedere winger Drury-Byrne.
team got into their stride, under the However, Brophy soon pulled three
wily Mr McCarthy and a rejuvenated points back and at half-time the score
Mr Whirdy, in a run of eighteen stood at 4-3.
matches we had sixteen wins and only Fifteen minutes into the second half
two losses. The victories included disaster struck when Captain Ross
scalps of such rugby giants as C.B.S. Kyne had to retire injured. Declan
M0nkstown, Clongowes, Belvedere Ridge substituted for Ross Kyne and
College and St Munchin's. went into the second row, with David
With this tremendous run of vic- Kennedy shifting from second row to
tories, much was expected of the team fill the captain's place at wing forward.
in the Senior Cup, nor were we dis- Heartened by this blow to Gonzaga
appointed. Following a first round bye, Belvedere soon scored again through
the green army first joined battle, Drury-Byrne, but the conversion was
under the leadership of Ross Kyne, at missed once again.
Belfield on 12 February. The oppon- Gonzaga responded almost
ents on that victorious day were immediately with a push-over try from
Newbridge. Gonzaga triumphed 17-3, a five-yard scrum at the Belvedere line,
with two tries by scrum-half Brian no 5 David Kennedy getting the touch-
O'Rourke, and three penalties by full- down. Brophy coolly converted the try,
back Eoin Brophy. The driving rain to leave the score 9-8 to Gonzaga with
and generally filthy weather suited the only 15 minutes to go. So it remained
heavier Gonzaga team, and proved to until six minutes from time when
be perfect conditions for both Belvedere scored the killer-try through
Gonzaga wing-forwards (Captain full-back Niall O'Riordan. The try was
Kyne and Paul Gleeson) who shone converted, and when the fin al whistle
throughout. Also notable during this blew the score stood at 14-9 to
victory was Patrick Kennedy who won Belvedere.
considerable ball jumping at no. 2 in So Gonzaga must wait another year
the line-out, ar:td John Moloney whose for its Landsdowne Road appearance,
tactical kicking was flawless. but it has no reason to be ashamed of
Gonzaga advanced to Donnybrook this year's attempt at glory.
to meet the 'ould enemy' Belvedere
College in the quarter finals. A wm David Kennedy (S.5A)
65
RUGBY NOTES would mean the first ever appearance
of Gonzaga at a semi-final of the Sen-
ior Cup, and likewise a unique encoun-
Senior Cup Season 1986-7 ter at Landsdowne Road.
Though Belvedere had lost to
The 1986-7 season was to prove one of Gonzaga 26-10 previously in the
the most successful ever for a Gonzaga season, only a rash man would have
Senior team, though losing the first given the edge to either side as they
four matches did not seem a good filed out before the Donnybrook
start. stands on 27 February.
The team, with six veterans from the The match started in perfect con-
previous year, (Conn O'Brien, Declan ditions, and twelve minutes into the
Ridge, Patrick Kennedy, John Collins, game Gonzaga were already 4-0 down,
Niall Carney, and Patrick Molloy) after a well-taken try in the corner by
took some time to settle down. As the Belvedere winger Drury-Byrne.
team got into their stride, under the However, Brophy soon pulled three
wily Mr McCarthy and a rejuvenated points back and at half-time the score
Mr Whirdy, in a run of eighteen stood at 4-3.
matches we had sixteen wins and only Fifteen minutes into the second half
two losses. The victories included disaster struck when Captain Ross
scalps of such rugby giants as C.B.S. Kyne had to retire injured. Declan
M0nkstown, Clongowes, Belvedere Ridge substituted for Ross Kyne and
College and St Munchin's. went into the second row, with David
With this tremendous run of vic- Kennedy shifting from second row to
tories, much was expected of the team fill the captain's place at wing forward.
in the Senior Cup, nor were we dis- Heartened by this blow to Gonzaga
appointed. Following a first round bye, Belvedere soon scored again through
the green army first joined battle, Drury-Byrne, but the conversion was
under the leadership of Ross Kyne, at missed once again.
Belfield on 12 February. The oppon- Gonzaga responded almost
ents on that victorious day were immediately with a push-over try from
Newbridge. Gonzaga triumphed 17-3, a five-yard scrum at the Belvedere line,
with two tries by scrum-half Brian no 5 David Kennedy getting the touch-
O'Rourke, and three penalties by full- down. Brophy coolly converted the try,
back Eoin Brophy. The driving rain to leave the score 9-8 to Gonzaga with
and generally filthy weather suited the only 15 minutes to go. So it remained
heavier Gonzaga team, and proved to until six minutes from time when
be perfect conditions for both Belvedere scored the killer-try through
Gonzaga wing-forwards (Captain full-back Niall O'Riordan. The try was
Kyne and Paul Gleeson) who shone converted, and when the fin al whistle
throughout. Also notable during this blew the score stood at 14-9 to
victory was Patrick Kennedy who won Belvedere.
considerable ball jumping at no. 2 in So Gonzaga must wait another year
the line-out, ar:td John Moloney whose for its Landsdowne Road appearance,
tactical kicking was flawless. but it has no reason to be ashamed of
Gonzaga advanced to Donnybrook this year's attempt at glory.
to meet the 'ould enemy' Belvedere
College in the quarter finals. A wm David Kennedy (S.5A)
65
