This is a big, bruising Blackrock pack, a fact soon exemplified by prop Joe Roche’s skittling of defenders through the middle.
The ball was put on a plate for centre Gavin Jones to feed full-back John Gallagher for the first try in the third minute.
Straight away, the other prop Giuseppe Coyne broke from deep and executed a two-on-one for scrum-half Patrick Patterson to have the pace to go around Ian West.
Out-half James Moriarty converted for 12-0 in the seventh minute.
King’s Hos’ pressed the reset button and came charging forward through prop Sean Goodburn and flanker Sam Wrafter.
They earned a lineout deep inside the 22 where they were sacked and overturned.
They weathered the next storm of runners for out-half Fionn O’Loughlin to put them back in position.
They just couldn’t hold onto the ball.
Patterson took off on a lightening surge that was stopped short by O’Loughlin for Goodburn to turn the ball over.
It was a temporary respite as ‘Rock came straight and fast for impressive centre Tom Roche to ground the ball in the left corner for 19-0 in the 19th minute.
From the restart, they gave away a penalty which centre Edward Mahood kicked.
The difference was in the cohesion of Blackrock. Once the gain line was broken, the runners flooded through in support.
The big forwards were not slow to turn the screw and lock Andrew Murphy dived over for Moriarty to make it 24-3 on the half-hour.
Through full-back West, KH let it be known there was plenty of fight left in them.
Hos’ came out re-energised in defence as centres Mahood and Ross Hackett led the defensive line in applying pressure to carriers.
The game was breaking up, KH captain Wrafter bursting clear of a maul and scrum-half Scott le Roux almost giving wing Clinton Wokocha a glimpse of gold.
The pace and footwork of O’Loughlin created havoc in behind and his kick was just about tamed by the ‘Rock back-three.
They were coming more into it – Osebor Evbodaghe was strong in contact – as Blackrock’s indiscipline at the breakdown tested the patience of referee James Fitzgerald.
When Hos’ lost number eight David Boles to the sin-bin, it was the signal for ‘Rock to reassert through fine tries by number eight Cian Reilly, left wing David Heavey and captain Reilly right at the end.
Blackrock College 41 The King’s Hospital 3
At Donnybrook – BLACKROCK COLLEGE 41 (C Reilly 2 tries; P Patterson, J Gallagher, T Roche, A Murphy, D Heavey try each; J Moriarty 3 cons); THE KING’S HOSPITAL 3 (E Mahood pen).
Blackrock: John Gallagher; Tom Maher, Tom Roche, Gavin Jones, David Heavey; James Moriarty, Patrick Patterson; Giuseppe Coyne, Stephen McLoughlin, Joe Byrne, Andrew Murphy, Charlie Ryan, John Fairley, Alan Francis, Cian Reilly (capt).
Replacements: Peter O’Reilly for Gallagher 7 mins; Michael McGagh for Fairley 42 mins; Thomas Clarkson for Byrne, Mark Phelan for Maher both 44 mins; Richard Fahy for Patterson 60 mins; James McShane for McLoughlin, Carl Delaney for Coyne, James Burke for Ryan all 63 mins.
KH: Ian West; Connell Howley, Ross Hackett, Edward Mahood, Clinton Wokocha; Fionn O’Loughlin, Scott le Roux; Sean Goodburn, Felix Campbell, Nathaneal Sibanda, Rhys Edgehill, Zac Bursey, Sam Wrafter (capt), Osebor Evbodaghe, David Boles.
Replacements: Paddy O’Boy for Hackett 44 mins; Killian Smith for Sibanda 51 mins; Harrison Mahood for Mahood 62 mins; Andrew Irwin for Goodburn, David Carroll for le Roux, Luke Corr for Edgehill all 66 mins.
Referee: James Fitzgerald
