TRINITY BEAT OXFORD 43 - 16!
12/03/2011

Trinity 43pts – Oxford University 16pts;

 

Trinity played their last game of the season in College Park on Saturday and celebrated with an impressive win over their illustrious traditional rivals. It is always a nice enjoyable break from All Ireland league play when Trinity play Oxford or Cambridge and this game proved no exception.

 

Trinity started brightly keeping the ball from the kick off and scoring their first try in two minutes. They took Oxford through several phases before moving the ball wide left for wing Shane Hanratty who ran strongly to skin his opposite man and score in the corner. James O’Donoghue converted from the sideline.

 

Trinity continued to attack and after more multi phase play, open-side flanker Dom Gallagher,  who was back to his best after injury, broke the line before passing inside to fellow flanker Johnny Iliff who dived over by the posts.

 

Oxford came back and kicked two penalties to close the score to 12-6. But Trinity regained control with their third try when, after more good attacking play, out half Dave Joyce put loose-head prop Ian Hirst in for another fine well worked try. Hirsty showed a glimpse of a swerve and an impressive burst of speed to win the race to the line.

 

Trinity should have scored at least another two tries after some excellent movement in this period and the general feeling around the ground was they may live to regret their handling errors, as Oxford came back strongly to score a try following some heavy pressure on the Trinity line to close the score to 19-11 at half time.

 

Oxford started the second half with their best spell of the game and they scored their 2^nd try out wide after some good structured play to close the score to 19-16. At this point in the game Trinity looked to have lost their concentration as they were clearly on the back foot.

 

To their credit Trinity came back hard, regained their shape of the first half and totally dominated the rest of the game. James O’Donoghue kicked a close range penalty to increase the lead 22-16. This was followed by the home team executing a backline move when scrum half Mick McLoughlin put centre Tim McCoy(who ran strongly all day ) over for a superb try.

 

Trinity were now back in the groove and put more pressure on the Oxford line which resulted in Mark Murdoch (probably playing his last game in College Parkafter a three year hold on the hooker spot) scoring a well worked try. He disguised his run brilliantly and took an inside pass off scrum half Mick McLoughlin splitting the interior defence to dive over the line.

 

Trinity added another try later when veteran wing Shane Hanratty scored his second try, running on to a well judged grubber kick from centre Conor Mills which bounced up for him as he outran the cover defence to score by the posts.

 

 

This was an impressive performance by Trinity, who next week travel to Cambridge University (KO 7.15pm Friday night). It was good for the Senior squad that 26 players all got good minutes in the match. Five players made their Senior debuts in Saturday’s game. Wings Colm Moore and Pip Blake, Out-half Harry Murphy, centre Ciaran Egan,  back row Brian Hanratty and hooker Tim O’Mahony.

 

15 James O’Donoghue, 14 Colm Moore (Pip Blake 60), 13 Ciaran Wade (Conor Mills 60), 12 Tim McCoy (Ciaran Egan 70), 11 Shane Hanratty, 10 Dave Joyce (Harry Murphy 70), 9 Mick McLoughlin (Sam Bell 60), 1 Ian Hirst (Paddy McCabe 60), 2 Tim O’Mahony (Mark Murdoch 55), 3 James Gethings (Colm Goode 65), 4 Jullian Mackey (Dermot O’Riordan 50), 5 Pierce Byrne, 6 Colin MacDonnell, 7 Dominic Gallagher, 8 Johnny Iliff (Brian Hanratty 65);

 

Other News;

At the All Ireland Qualifying play off game in Coolmine RFC. Trinity U20s Premier XV lost to St Marys RFC 7-0 in a hugely physical and defensive game. Trinity played into the wind in the first half and defended well keeping a high powered St Marys attack scoreless.

 

In the second half Trinity dominated territory and went close to scoring several times and missed a penalty with three minutes remaining. The game looked to be going into extra time when St Marys on their first visit into the Trinity 22 in the entire second half, managed to get their scrum half free to score by the posts in the 41^st minute of the second half.

 

This was a hugely disappointing result for the Trinity squad who were hoping to get to the All Ireland Play offs.

 

Trinity U20s Pennant had an impressive win 55-17 against Newbridge. Trinity now qualify for the quarter Finals of the Leinster U20s First Division play offs.

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