UCD won the 54^th colours match on Friday night. In a fast and physical game. UCD with their six professional players available had a little more composure on the ball and in Eoghan Hickey their Leinster out-half they had the games most influential player. It seemed as if Trinity were playing into the wind both half’s so good was Hickeys tactical kicking. Trinity were on the back foot for most of the game and struggled to get field position to launch their attacks.

 

UCD scored a penalty followed by a well taken try when Hickey cross-kicked to his wing to score after a series of drives at the Trinity line. Trinity came back with some good play of their own, but lacked the accuracy needed when near the UCD line. The forwards managed to pressure UCD up front but not really taking advantage of their chances.

 

Trinity out-half Donal Crotty kicked a penalty and UCD scored their second try when Hickey exploited a gap in the Trinity interior defence to set up another score.

 

15-3, at half time. The game continued in its familiar vein. With UCD dominating field position. Hickey and Crotty swapped penlties. With fifteen minutes to go Irish senior squad member 19 year old Robert Kearney playing his first game for UCD 1^st XV scored a nice individual try to effectively ice the game for UCD. Trinity with true spirit dominated the rest of the game and scored a well-taken try by flanker Philip Rowe after several waves of attack on the UCD line. Trinity then battled hard for a bonus point for getting the score under seven points but time ran out.

 

This was an extremely disappointing result for the Trinity squad who now have a week off to lick their wounds. The focus will be now on Carlow on the 3^rd of December in a “must win” AIBL game. Trinity have an interesting warm up game on the 26^th November against the legendary South African University Stellenbosh University at College Park 2.30pm KO

15 Philip Howard, 14 Shane Hanratty, 13 George Byron, 12 Conor Donohue, 11 Francis Keane (Johnny Watt 55), 10 Donal Crotty, 9 Matt D’Arcy (Conor McShane 75), 1 Nial Conlon, 2 Matt Crockett (Mark Cooney 75), 3 Paul Doran Jones (Killian O’Neill 60), 4 Martin Garvey, 5 Marc Warburton, 6 Philip Rowe, 7 Hugh Hogan, Gregory Herrera (Richard Morrow 75).

 

Trinity 2^nd XV continued their winning ways with a hard fought 24-12 league win over Old Wesley importantly picking up a bonus point for four tries. The team are 3^rd in the J1 league with the teams above them to play.

 

The U20s A scraped through against a strong Clontarf team in Castle avenue 6-3. The U20s defended superbly for long periods with out-half Micheal Boland kicking a penalty from the half way to win the incredibly intense game in the last minute. Next week the unbeaten students play equally unbeaten UCD in College Park 2.30pm on Sunday November 20^th to determine who will top the league.

 

The U20s B lost to top of the league Bective 17-15 in a nail biter. 17 –5 down the students came back to claim a crucial bonus point against the Bective A squad at Donnybrook.

 

 

Trinity J3 kicked off their league campaign with a comprehensive 22 – 0 win over Dundalk. The students fully deserved their win dominating possession and territory, scoring three tries and going close on several more occasions.

Despite pre-match concerns over the lack of scrummaging practice Trinity were on top in this phase and, in fact, it was Dundalk who had to ask the referee to introduce non-contested scrums in the second half as they had lost 2 specialist front rowers to injury.

 

The students superiority was based on a secure lineout where Thibaut de Rodellec ruled supreme, and several barnstorming runs by, in particular Kevin Brandon and Donal Salmon. But it is probably unfair to single out individuals as this was a team effort characterised by a determination to support each other, and everyone should take pride in the outcome.

 

A point that should not be understated was that the referee commented afterwards on the spirit in which both teams played the game, and it is pleasing to note that, while physical throughout, the game was characterised by sportsmanship and good nature.

It is to be hoped that this will prove the springboard to and enjoyable and successful season for Andy McDonnell’s team.

With new management in place Trinity are striving to make up a 4^th team they only require a few players.

 

Six Trinity players have been selected for Irish universities squad to play Scotland on Friday in Cork. Philip Howard, Brian Hastings, Marc Warburton, Matt Crockett, Niall Conlon and Donal Crotty.

 

Trinity have four players selected to play for Irish U21s against France in Blackrock this weekend Killian O’Neill, Paul Doran Jones, Matt D’Arcy and Conor Donohue