Quite what Trinity had in their water on Saturday morning has still to be determined. As the first five minutes of this AIBL game on Saturday the team was reduced to carnage. A series of freak injuries had four of their players injured, second row Marc Warburton (neck) and centre Brian Hastings (knee ligaments) leaving the field at one minute and three minutes of the start, and two more Nial Conlon (on and off the field with a broken nose), Philip Rowe (dead leg) walking wounded who later departed the field just after half time. With only five subs in AIL games these injuries were impossible to cover for.

 

Despite these injuries Trinity led for the entire first half and went into half time 6-6 on the back of penalties from Johnny Watt and Donal Crotty. The game was scrappy in the first half with all the stoppages. Trinity struggled to get any front ball, there for not getting any continuity.

 

In the second half Trinity went down to 14 men when flanker Richard White was sin-binned. Garryowen took full advantage and scored 10 pts in his absence. Trinity then tried to move the ball from deep, but inaccurate passing ended up with the students standing under their own posts, which pretty much ended the game as a competitive contest. As the game progressed Garryowen became more confident and took over the game. They ran in five tries in total much to the delight of their supporters. Their kicker Conor Kilroy kicked nine kicks five conversions and four penalties.

 

In a game like this it is difficult to get any positives for Trinity. But the student’s spirit in what was non-stop defence had to be applauded and nobody dropped their heads. In sport you get some days like this, this was certainly the first hammering in many years for Trinity.

 

The Trinity physio’s will be working flat out this week to get players ready to face UCD in the annual colours match (and AIL game) on Friday at Donnybrook 6.30pm.

15 Phil Howard, 14 Conor Donohue, 13 George Byron, 12 Brian Hastings (Johnny Watt 3), 11 Shane Hanratty, 10 Donal Crotty, 9 Matt D’Arcy, 1 Niall Conlon (Killian O’Neill 45), 2 Matt Crockett, 3 Paul Doran Jones, 4 Richard Morrow, 5 Marc Warburton (Gregory Herrera 1), 6 Philip Rowe (Mark Cooney 60) , 7 Richard White, 8 Hugh Hogan

 

In Santry on Sunday three teams from Trinity hosted their respective opposition. All three ran out convincing winners playing superb running rugby. Thanks to Jim Flynn for spending the day on Saturday cleaning and organising the venue out there. It was well worth it and we had a great day.

 

Trinity 2nds had an impressive win over Suttonians 38-3. In the first half into the elements the forwards controlled the ball well and they scored two tries. In the second half the game opened up and the students played some superb running rugby.

 

The Trinity U20s continued their unbeaten league form with a highly impressive 27-8 demolition of archrivals Lansdowne. The team ran the ball from all over the field, and the forwards destroyed their opposites in the tight.

 

The Trinity U20s B started the day and had their first win of the season, when they beat Clontarf 38-18. A lot of players showed their wares in an entertaining fashion.

 

Trinity 3rds drew two and lost two in their seeding blitz in Greystones.