Harry Coyne reports from Clanwilliam
On a breezy afternoon in Clanwilliam, two big names in the cup came head to head. Rockwell were favourites going into the match but did not play up to that name.
Rockwell kicked off the first half but were soon to be dominated by the visitors. The game had everything, except a score but that was soon changed. A kick from Rockwell went into the hands of Comp’s Seamus Hurley, he passed it to Colm Quilligan who was tackled but then offloaded to Jack Delaney who ran from the halfway line, stepped Rockwell fullback Nickolas Kennedy and dived in for the first try of the afternoon. The conversion was missed.
Crescent restated their prowess as they again found a breakthrough when the ball was given out the backs, winger Gary Kelly cut inside, drifted through and just about finished in the corner. The conversion was also missed leaving the score 10-0.
Approaching halftime and the game had slightly died out. fullback Colm Quilligan attempted a kick through and it was blocked, Crescent scurried back and eventually got the ball out of play leaving it 10-0 at the break.
Crescent kicked off the 2nd half. Jack Delaney kicked 2 penalties for the away side to leave the score 16-0.
A moment of controversy then occurred however. Winger Gary Kelly chipped the ball through, Rockwells’ John O’Sullivan dove onto it but Kelly would commit with a reckless slide challenge on his Rockwell opponent. Kelly perhaps should have seen red but the ref let him off with a warning,
Rockwell eventually found a breakthrough when scrumhalf O’Sullivan touched down in the corner with 5 minutes remaining but the conversion drifted wide. The home side soon tried to build on their comeback but a tap & go penalty on their own line led to an intercept from Seamus Hurley who completed the scores for Crescent.
Final score: Rockwell 5-21 Crescent College
Munster Haka 