TRINITY HOLD OUT AGAINST HIGHFIELD
20/02/2010

Highfield 5pts – Trinity 8pts

 

This was an incredible roller coaster of a game for the Students on their visit to Cork on Saturday to play second from bottom in the table Highfield.

 

The students started the game in impressive form dominating possession and territory against a home team clearly lacking confidence. The students scored a try early on off a well executed line out move. Hooker Mark Murdoch sprinted in from 20 metres out. Dave Joyce kicked a penalty and at 8-0 playing all the rugby, Trinity looked set for a big win.

 

The students then got careless and spilled several opportunities as they started to stray from the game plan. They missed four kicks at goal and turned down opportunities to kick in their quest for tries.

 

8-0 up at half time Trinity were disappointed not to be up by 20+ points but confident that they would put their hosts away in the second half.

 

The second half started in the same vein, with the students owning the ball but still making unforced errors. Half way through the half Highfield scored a try from close in with their big forwards.

 

Suddenly from a tranquil spring setting, with somewhat bemused home supporters looking on, the whole atmosphere changed as the home supporters ramped up the vocal chords, intensity and pressure. The Home team came alive with belief and the Students were firmly on the back foot fighting for survival.

 

The game moved into the final stages. Trinity had two players sin binned under massive physical pressure deep in their own 22 metre area. It looked a matter of time before Highfield would score the winning points. But the Visitors seemed to rise to the challenge and to almost enjoy the siege mentality. Trinity players started physically putting their bodies on the line, as they repelled wave after wave of Highfield attack. Several times the home team got over the line only to be held up as the home supporters screamed the place down! It was awesome to witness such heroic defence for such a long period of time.

 

Eventually the final whistle went after a long range drop goal attempt from Highfield, the home supporters groaned and the Trinity players cheered and embraced. It was a special moment for Trinity players and supporters alike.

 

There have been several games this season that Trinity can rightly curse their bad luck in losing, but this was definitely one game where the Students can thank their lucky stars!! Trinity now move into sixth place in the table.

 

Next up is the Colours Vs UCD in Donnybrook on Thursday 4^th March.

 

15; Andy Wallace, 14 Neil Hanratty, 13 Conor Colclough, 12 Conor Mills, 11 Colin Murphy, 10 Dave Joyce, 9 Mick McLoughlin, 1 Tristan Goodbody (Paddy McCabe 60), 2 Mark Murdoch, 3 James Gethings, 4 Scott LaValla, 5 Pierce Byrne, 6 Alan Mathews (Max Waters 60), Brian Coyle.

 

Other news;

 

Trinity 2^nd XV lost to Blackrock 32-8 in Stradbrook, a disappointing game which got away from the students. They now have a play off for a spot in the Division A of the Junior One league.

 

Trinity U20s Premier XV lost at home to Blackrock College in the “Super Six” to a last minute penalty 20-17.

 

Trinity U20s Pennant XV – drew 20-20 V St Mary’s to keep their play off hopes alive.

 

Trinity J3s lost to Bective 15-12 in a very tight encounter in Donnybrook on Friday night.

 

Trinity J4s game was cancelled by Millmont.

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