There will be more trying challenges ahead for King’s Hospital as they outclassed a committed Newpark in the Bank of Ireland Fr Godfrey first round at Donnybrook on Tuesday.
Initially, Newpark tidied up the kick-off nicely. But King’s Hospital hooker Tom Moloney got a block in on the clearance and his fellow forwards followed up for captain William Hendy to ground the ball.
Matthew Farrell made a most unlikely conversion from way out on the left.
The Comp’ were quickly able to respond, forcing two penalties, the second of which dropped short in what appeared to be a devious wind.
KH played their way out of trouble and into the danger zone through a short ball from Farrell, the support line of Craig Adams, finished off by flanker Hendy.
King’s Hos stayed on the front foot with centre Adams slicing through for a superb individual try to make it 17-0 in the 10th minute.
Newpark’s release of their three-quarter line brought centre Matthew Jungmann into the game. That was a good thing, his unselfish work putting wing Patrick Gilceava away from 20 metres.
Their scrum and number eight David Murphy weren’t faring too badly either as Hos’ paid the price of penalties for their indiscipline.
Out-half Jose Caetano twice threatened on the run and Jungmann’s distribution allowed Gilceava to beat a defender one-on-one. There just wasn’t the finish to complement the set-up play.
The urgency of Caetano from a tap penalty was a matter of need. Lock Ian Walsh thundered onto the ball. There was a lot to like about Newpark’s attitude.
The capacity for KH to strike from deep was the difference, wing Adam Bagnall shooting down the left only to put a foot in touch.
It was merely a reprieve as Farrell exploited a soft shoulder to glide to the sticks, making his conversion a formality for 24-0 just before the break.
The class of Jungmann was almost good enough for a rebound try. The centre put Gilceava into space, but he was hauled in by the vigilant Tom Raben.
Newpark had position and they pressed it home from Murphy’s surge onto a tap-penalty. Caetano converted to make it 24-7 in the 35th minute.
The smattering of penalties conceded by Hos’ continued, the latest one for offside, as Newpark moved into enemy territory again.
Murphy was to the fore of a stinging drive. They just couldn’t secure the ball.
This was the invitation KH centre Moyo Mobalaji needed to fire up his engine for 40 metres.
Then, Murphy galloped in chase of the ball to capture full-back Luke Gilmartin for a penalty.
The KH defence held firm and they were almost back in business when prop Finn Tierney made a try-saving tackle and centre Evin Rankin stopped Farrell just short of the whitewash.
The winners stayed patient and second row Yuri Sinev made the most of a strong maul for their fifth try in the 50th minute.
Newpark’s Gilceava finally got his reward when the boys inside moved the ball left to give him the space he had been craving all game long.
They would not have the last say as Josh Early splashed down at the posts for replacement Matt Mahood’s conversion to conclude business.
THE KING’S HOSPITAL 38 NEWPARK COMPREHENSIVE 12
At Donnybrook – The King’s Hospital 38 (W Hendy 2 tries; M Farrell try, 3 cons; Y Sinev, C Adams, J Early try each; M Mahood con); Newpark Comprehensive 12 (D Murphy, P Gilceava try each; J Caetano con).
KH: Luke Gilmatrin; Tom Raben, Moyo Mobalaji, Craig Adams, Adam Bagnall; Matthew Farrell, Josh Morgan; Fred Davis, Tom Moloney, Luke Henry, Luke Corr, Yuri Sinev, William Hendy (capt), Conor Hensey, Stephen Walshe.
Replacements: Luke O’Neill for Hensey 23 mins- temp; Matt Mahood for Mobalaji 49 mins; Gaurev Pandeya for Henry 51 mins; Rhys Blakeney for Raben 48 mins; Josh Early for Adams 55 mins.
Newpark: Oliver Perrem; Leon Gallagher, Matthew Jungmann, Evin Rankin, Patrick Gilceava; Jose Caetano-Considine, Adam Sheeran; Dylan Kirara, Adam Klug, Finn Tierney, Ian Walsh, John Nugent, Ryan Duffy, Adam Faulkner, David Murphy.
Replacements: Sam Turner for Kirira 55 mins; Eric Lysaght for Walsh 57 mins.
Referee: C Reynolds, Leinster Branch.
