BLACKROCK SQUEEZE PAST TRINITY!!
30/08/2008
Blackrock College 17pts – Trinity 10pts 

Trinity led this Leinster senior cup pool game in Stradbrook for 64 minutes before the home side scored two tries in four minutes to win the opening game of the new season.

The students played into a slight breeze in the first half and started brightly by dominating possession and territory. They played some good running rugby and went very close to scoring two tries in the first half. The first was pulled back by the assistant referee (touch judge!!).The other opportunity came when Debutant wing Colm Brady was just about to pounce on the ball which was kicked through for him, when a Blackrock player slid his leg in to clear the ball soccer style.

The Trinity pack, with six of last seasons U20s in the line up, played superbly against a pack which included former Ireland and Lions hooker Shane Byrne. It was only when fatigue (lack of game time) on about 55-60 minutes set in that the students began to take second best. Blackrock, with a game already under their belts, undoubtedly lasted the game better.

Trinity opened the scoring with a close in effort from out half Michael Boland. After two near misses they eventually scored a try when centre Charles Coyle finished off some good handling from backs and forwards. Blackrock did manage a penalty just before half time.

In the second half the home team came more into the game. Blackrock scored two tries on around the 65th minute mark which coincided with the introduction of Leinster’s Kyle Tonetti who was involved in both scores. Despite taking second best for much of the last quarter, Trinity still had their chances to win the game and went close on two or three occasions.

This was a reasonably impressive performance by Trinity with only two weeks of team training under their belt. As said before, the pack battled manfully throughout, and look to be bigger and more physical than in the past two years. The backs, with no starters in the team (there are three to come back) from last season, were pretty much thrown together for the game but looked dangerous at times and always kept their shape. The defence was outstanding for the first 60 minutes and they were led by the superb back row of Captain Shane Young, Scott LaValla and Max Cantrell.

Next week; Trinity host Suttonians in College Park at 2.30pm

Trinity team; 15 Andy Wallace, 14 Colm Brady, 13 Conor Coclough, 12 Charles Coyle, 11 Chris Jebb, 10 Michael Boland (Harry Murphy 70), 9 Bryan Johnson (Mark Reidy 72). 1 Colm Goode, 2 Mark Murdoch, 3 James Gethings, 4 Colin McDonnell (Dermot O’Riordan 72), 5 John Byrne, 6 Max Cantrell (Conor McGinn 35 – Pierce Byrne 68)), 7 Shane Young, 8 Scott LaValla.

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