Grosvenor faced old rivals CIYMS at Belmont in the McCrea Cup semi-final with a day out at Kingspan a big incentive for the winners.
Grosvenor started brightly in conditions that were perfect for their expansive running style. After a number of forays into CI's 22 outhalf Ben Johnston chipped over the onrushing defence, regathered the ball beautifully and offloaded to Jamie Sadlier who crashed over for a terrific try. Ben added the conversion followed by a penalty to make it 10-0
The home side responded with a period of pressure inside Grosvenors 22 but the Stags defence was magnificent and they yielded only a solitary penalty 10-3. Grosvenor looked to have scored a second try before the break but the referee was unsighted and he awarded a penalty instead and a yellow card to the CI scrum half. 13-3. CI added a penalty before the break 13-6
Grosvenor started the second half with a bang when a back line move inside their 22 released Jack Breen who scorched upfield before releasing Jamie McNeight for a memorable try. 20-6.
Jack Breen was again the chief architect of a wonderful try for Jack Kennedy, breaking from deep, drawing two defenders and offloading in the tackle to allow JK to glide in. 27-6
Almost immediately Grosvenor were on the attack again and Cameron Knell burst over from short range for a try. 34-6.
Grosvenor perhaps took their foot off the gas and CI were able to take advantage and score a try. 34-13. However Jamie McNeight applied the coup de grace with another well worked try 41-13.
In the dying minutes CI scored a second try but the match was over as a contest by then and the final score was 41-20.
This was Grosvenor's fourth win in a row and they'll be hoping to carry this form into their two remaining league games and of course the Kingspan final against Queens 2nd XV.
There were so many wonderful performances in what was a real team effort and it would be unfair to choose a MoM. The forwards laid the platform for the victory, really fronting up to the bigger CI pack and the backs executed their plays beautifully, while the team's combined heroics in defence thwarted the home side's attacking options.
Pic courtesy of Front Row Union
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