TRINITY BEAT OLD WESLEY!!
01/04/2011

Old Wesley 10pts – Trinity 22pts;

 

Trinity travelled the short distance to Donnybrook for their third Friday evening game in a row. This was the penultimate game of the season and Trinity were desperate to get a win after last weeks disappointing performance and result in DLSP.

 

Old Wesley opened the game with their best play of the night as they attacked the students through many phases and forced Trinity to scramble a lot on defence. They kicked a penalty for their efforts to take an early lead.

 

Trinity came back into the game when the front five showed impressive handling and continuity. Hooker Tim O’Mahony, props Ian Hirst (who had several storming runs during the game) and James Gethings charged up the middle of the field with ball in hand before offloading to second row Pierce Byrne who passed a delightful “over the head – very French?” pass for the backs to finish off with centre Ciaran Wade scoring in the corner.

 

This seemed to inspire the students who then played some explosive rugby. Centre Tim

McCoy was put through a gap from a clinical set move by the backs to score by the posts. Unfortunately Tim hurt his ankle while in the act of scoring and had to leave the field.

 

Soon after Trinity attacked again and left wing Shane Hanratty was held up over the line after a blistering break out wide off a nicely judged “bounce pass” by out-half Dave Joyce. From the ensuing scrum the Trinity pack heaved the Old Wesley eight over their own line for a hugely satisfactory try, especially with former Trinity loose-head prop Tristan Goodbody scrummaging for Old Wesley, #8 Alan Mathews claiming the try.

 

At this point in the game, Trinity were in total control with the home team seemingly unable to do anything to stop the student’s progress. Just on half time quick thinking by scrum half Mick McLoughlin led to Neil Hanratty running away from the defence to show his superb power and speed to score out wide.

 

22-3 up at half time and a bonus point already in the bag for four tries, Trinity looked set for another high scoring win, but inexplicably it never happened as Old Wesley looked to improve their game and Trinity totally lost their concentration, playing with no shape on attack and defence. This was shown early on when two easy try scoring opportunities were squandered with sloppy finishing by the away team. Old Wesley came back into the game and actually scored a try of their own, after a poor clearance kick by the visitors.

 

This was Trinity’s last game before they return to Donnybrook to play the annual “Colours” match against UCD in two weeks time. (16^th April)  Needless to say UCD are having a fabulous Centenary season, undefeated in All Ireland league play and also impressively Leinster Senior Cup Champions. The Challenge will be mighty for the underdog Trinity team, who will have to lift their game several notches just to be competitive with the superb outfit from Belfield – who beat Malone on Saturday by 67-14.

 

15 James O’Donoghue, 14 Neil Hanratty, 13 Ciaran Wade, 12 Tim McCoy (Conor Colclough 25) 11 Shane Hanratty, 10 Dave Joyce, 9 Mick McLoughlin (Sam Bell 65), 1 Ian Hirst, 2 Tim O’Mahony Craig Telford 55), 3 James Gethings (Paddy McCabe 55), 4 Colin MacDonnell, 5 Pierce Byrne, 6 Scott LaValla, 7 Dominic Gallagher, 8 Alan Mathews (Johnny Iliff 50);

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