TRINITY FINISH PRE SEASON PREPARATIONS ON HIGH NOTE!
25/09/2010

Trinity hosted the Highly Prestigious Universities Dudley Cup on Saturday on a beautiful autumn day in College park. With the start of the All Ireland League just one week away, all four participating teams were looking for good performances.

 

Trinity played UCD in the semi final (20 minutes each way) and lost out 20-13 in a game where the hosts played most of the attacking rugby but were unlucky with two unforced mistakes that gift wrapped the Belfield lad’s two tries.

 

The game was played at breakneck speed with Trinity scoring two superb tries, one after several phases of play, and one from a sensational counter attack deep in the Trinity half. UCD, just back from their South Africa tour, played error free rugby kicking cleverly and taking the points when they were on offer. The game ended with Trinity trying to force a try on the UCD line to tie the game. UCD gained a penalty and kicked to touch to close out the game and go through to the final.

 

Trinity team; 15 Peter Zerafi, 14 Neil Hanratty, 13 Conor Colclough, 12 Paul Galbraith, 11 Shane Hanratty, 10 Dave Joyce, 9 Mick McLoughlin, 1 Colm Goode. 2 Mark Murdoch, 3 James Gethings, 4 Colin McDonnell, 5 Pierce Byrne, 6 Hugh Kelleher, 7 Dominic Gallagher, 8 Alan Mathews.

 

Queens University caused a minor upset when they beat UCC with a last minute score after trailing for most of the game.

 

Trinity had to play UCC in the consolation game. Trinity again took the game to their opponents and played some superb attacking Rugby. At half time the score was 0-0.

In the second half the game opened up and Trinity ran the Cork visitors ragged to score some great tries by Conor Colclough, Neil Hanratty and Ciaran Wade to win out 19-5.

 

Trinity team; 15 James O’Donoghue, 14 Neil Hanratty, 13 Conor Colclough, 12 Conor Mills, 11 Shane Hanratty (Peter Zerafi 20), 10 Ciaran Wade, 9 Sam Bell, 1 Colm Goode, 2 Craig Telford (Tim O’Mahony), 3 James Gethings, 4 Colin McDonnell, 5 Max Waters, 6 Eamon Guinan, 7 Dom Gallagher, 8 Alan Mathews.

 

UCD beat an injury ravaged Queens comfortably to win the Final in their Centenary year 24 -7.

 

On Sunday the Trinity U20s had their first hit out this season in two friendlies/trial matches V Blackrock College. With “Freshers week” just completed Trinity played two very experimental teams. In games where the result was not important they did manage to win both games The Premier game was won 15-0 in a tough and physical encounter against a well skilled Rock XV. The Pennant game was won with a last minute drop goal 29-26 in this game Trinity were 26-5 down and showed great character to come back to win.

 

The Trinity Juniors (J3 and J4s) with new coaches, former 1^st teamer’s Eoin McBennett and Ross Condron, at the helm showed great promise before losing at Blackrock in another trial game.

 

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