Clonmel High School's Under 16 rugby team travelled to Coonagh in Limerick City to play their old friends Villiers School in their third and final Mungret Shield group match.
The High School began well, putting together some good multi-phase play. One sweeping move put winger Bohdan Chumakov away to score a good try under the posts. Kaine Tobin kicked the conversion to give the High School an early seven-nil lead.
Villiers got their act together and dominated the rest of the first half, running in three tries to give them a 21-7 lead at the break.
The High School refocused at half-time and turned the tables on Villiers.
Chumakov showed his pace once again to outstrip the Villiers defence to score his second try, reducing the deficit to 21-12.
The High School used its bigger pack to good effect. Rory O'Dwyer, Jack Lynch and Eddie Lawless were to the fore. The introduction of Wiktor Kozdron and Corey Norris Grogan added to Villiers' woes.
Captain Tony O'Brien crashed over on 42 minutes for his team's third try to make it 21-17. Minutes later, centre Sean Callery took a good line from out half Kaine Tobin to score under the posts. Kayden O'Meara kicked the conversion to give the High School a 24-21 lead.
Next to score was Cody O'Neill Crotty, who was rewarded with a try after his consistent good work throughout the match. Tobin added the two points, pushing the High School 31-21 ahead.
Further pressure from the High School allowed Kayden O'Meara to score under the posts. Tobin kicked the conversion to leave the score 38-21.
Villiers got in for a late try on the stroke of full-time to leave the final score 38-26 to the High School.
This was a satisfying win, considering the half-time score. The High School will now play Colaiste Pobal Bantry in the quarter-final in Clonmel after Christmas.
High School team: Olivers Skudrins, Daniel Hogan, Kayden O'Meara, Sean Callery, Kyle O'Connor, Bohdan Chumakov, Kaine Tobin, Tony O'Brien (captain), Eddie Lawless, Cody O'Neill Crotty, Finn Murphy, James Carroll, Jack Lynch, Alex Byrne, Rory O'Dwyer, Blyce Baguio, Dara O'Flaherty, Aidan Gaffey, Jack Kearney, Wiktor Kozdron, Corey Norris Grogan, Zac Corcoran, Rory O'Dea. Coaches: Brendan Mullan and Eoin Brenner.
A depleted High School team played Villiers in a challenge game in Coonagh last Thursday.
The Limerick side proved too strong on the day but it was still a good opportunity to give the boys a run out.