TRINITY GET BIG WIN!!
12/02/2011

Trinity 59pts – Clonakilty 27pts

 

Anybody who has seen Trinity play this season would have to say they have been unlucky to have so many one score (one point) losses. Those same people would also say that the Students were due a big break and it came on Saturday in College Park. Trinity had to step up their performance against a team only one place below them in the table going into the game.

 

In the first minute from a counter attack Wing Neil Hanratty sprinted clear from a pass by James O’Donoghue from his own 22 metre area, he ran 70 metres before wrong footing the Clonakilty full back to score under the posts for a sensational start to the game for Trinity. James O’Donoghue who started the movement for the try kicked the conversion.

 

Three minutes later left wing Niyi Adeolukan was put away to score in the other corner after some nice handling by the backs and forwards. Clonakilty stayed in touch with penalties either side of the Trinity tries. Inside centre Tim McCoy was next up to score, he received the ball on the half way line, then slipped inside the drifting defence to get clear, he chipped the full back, re-gathered the bounce to score by the posts for a superb individual try.

 

Out half Dave Joyce controlled the game through out and attacked in many different ways. He personally put Captain Scott LaValla in for a try with a nice bit of vision. Clonakility scored their first try after a series of “pick and go’s” near the line. Neil Hanratty scored again just before half time. Trinity led 33-13 at half time.

 

Trinity kept up the attacking play as the game came very loose in the second half. Flanker Dominic Gallagher showed a nice burst of speed to score from 40 metres out. This was followed by a nice break by Niyi Adeolukan who, after some good handling by the backs and forwards,  chipped through for #8 Alan Mathews to catch and score from close in.

 

Scott LaValla capped an outstanding performance with another fine run when he stretched his legs from 50 metres out and down the sideline after he supported a break by prop Ian Hirst and scrum half Sam Bell.

 

Scrum half Sam Bell completed the scoring when, after several quick phases, he found a gap to score. Fullback James O’Donoghue kicked six from nine kicks.

 

This was a much better performance by the Students. They were very clinical on the day. There are still areas to work on this week. Next week they travel to Ballymena who are in the top four of the league.

 

15 James O’Donoghue, 14 Neil Hanratty (Peter Zarafi 65), 13 Ciaran Wade (Ed Barry 65), 12 Tim McCoy, 11 Niyi Adeolukan, 10 Dave Joyce, 9 Sam Bell, 1 Ian Hirst (Paddy McCabe 60), 2 Mark Murdoch, 3 James Gethings, 4 Colin McDonnell (Eamon Guinan 50), 5 Pierce Byrne, 6 Scott LaValla, 7 Dominic Gallagher (Craig Telford 60), 8 Alan Mathews.

 

Only the J4's were playing as well this weekend, and they recorded a big win over Swords out in Santry, winning 73-0. The J3's have two big games this weekend in the J3 league, playing Clontarf under lights tomorrow night in Clontarf (Tuesday 15th Feb) and Wesley under lights in Donnybrook on Friday night.

 

---