U20s v Belvo: Match Report

This article has been copied from the Leinster Rugby website.

Bank of Ireland JP Fanagan (Under-20) League

Author Des Berry Posted 17th November 2025

A delayed fixture in the BANK OF IRELAND JP FANAGAN UNDER-20 PREMIER 1 LEAGUE was played over the weekend.

Blackrock College moved off the bottom of the table in thrilling fashion to prevent Old Belvedere from moving into the Top-4. 

BLACKROCK COLLEGE 26 OLD BELVEDERE 24 

A late try by Zephaniel Lewis and a conversion by Rudy O’Reilly gave Blackrock a first win on Sunday afternoon from a previously postponed match.

The encounter was moved from Stradbrook to the astro at Williamstown due to the weather conditions, which favoured Rock’s pursuit of a fast start.

It couldn’t have turned out any better as the home club rocketed out to a 19-point lead after 20 minutes.

First, a swift move from right to left enabled wing Sam Kilroy to zoom into the right corner in the fourth minute. 

The second try came from right wing Lochlainn Maher after a good lineout and a coherent multi-phase attack in which the chip and chase was central to the outcome. 

The third try came from second row Conor Hanly as a reward for the grinding first quarter work of the forward pack, James Clancy and Rudy O’Reilly converting one each.

From an infringement, Belvedere chose to kick to the corner. The ball was secured after a clever move to the front of the lineout. After several pick-and-gos, Ben Merry powered his way to the line. Out-half Cathal Lydon converted.

The Black & Whites struck again almost directly from the kick-off, following a huge clear-out by powerful hooker Cian Geraghty. The patient recycling of the ball allowed tight-head prop Merry to claim his second try in the 31st minute.

Then, dynamic number eight Conan Lennon led the charge with a strong carry deep into the Blackrock 22’.  

A couple of phases later, the ball was worked wide to the right where Hugh Fitzgerald fed pacy Finn Kehoe for a third try, converted by Lydon for 19-all at the break.

Off turnover ball deep in the Belvo’ half, athletic back rower Harvey Leonard stormed through the Blackrock defence.  

A Snyman-esque offload found energetic substitute hooker Paddy McGrath on his shoulder.  Charlie McConnell drew in two defenders before feeding winger Fitzgerald for the bonus-point try.  

In a back-and-forth contest, Blackrock could not take advantage of more than one line break by hard-running centre Alex Doorly. 

From a lineout around the 22, a trick play opened up a hole for number eight Zephaniel Lewis to shoot through for a try to make it level in the 77th minute.  

Just as Rudy O’Reilly prepared to take the conversion, the crowd burst into celebration at news coming through of Troy Parrott’s injury-time winner in Budapest.  

Out-half O’Reilly was unflappable in striking the winning conversion from five metres in off the touchline. 

Still, Belvo had a chance to shade it in the dying seconds of the game, but unfortunately, the penalty faded to the right of the upright.

Scorers

• Blackrock: S Kilroy, L Maher, C Hanly, Z Lewis try each; R O’Reilly 2 cons; J Clancy con. 

• Old Belvedere: B Merry 2 tries; F Kehoe, H Fitzgerald try each; C Lydon 2 cons. 

BLACKROCK: James Clancy; Lochlainn Maher, Alex Doorly, Darragh Farrell, Sam Kilroy; Rudy O’Reilly, Ben Crowley; Charlie O’Keefe, William O’Sullivan, Ernie O Brien, Ben O’Halloran, Conor Hanly, Gavin Trayer, Harry Dixon, Zephaniel Lewis.

Replacements: Will Keyes, Daragh Walsh, Cillian O’Leary, Jack McSherry, Luke Fitzpatrick, Max Cranfield, Shane O’Connor.

OLD BELVEDERE: Finn Kehoe; JP Breslin, Charlie McConnell, Patrick O’Gorman, Hugh Fitzgerald; Cathal Lydon, Daniel Benn; Harry Kelly, Cian Geraghty, Ben Merry, Sean Killeen, Eamon Burke, Harvey Leonard, Charlie Kennedy, Conan Lennon.

Replacements: Patrick McGrath, Harry Miller, Daniel McKenna, Caidean McLoughlin, Matthew Ruddy, Charlie Lyons, Finn Byrne.

Photo credits to Cillian O'Leary. All U20s v Belvo match photos found online in the gallery.

Leinster Rugby also recognised Blackrock in their Bank of Ireland "Never Stop Competing" weekly award.

Instagram Caption: Blackrock College have secured their first win of the Bank of Ireland JP Fanagan Premier 1. After a series of hard-fought rounds, at the weekend Blackrock College RFC came out on top over previously unbeaten Old Belvedere RFC - earning them the "Never Stop Competing" moment of the week.