TRINITY SAVE BEST FOR LAST!
10/04/2010

Trinity 32pts Belfast Harlequins 7pts – April 10^th 2010

 

Trinity played their last game of the season on Saturday in sun drenched College Park. The last game is always special for the Student XV as it generally marks an end for some of the players. Even though the last game was a mid table encounter the players clearly wanted to play for each other and their supporters.

 

For the second year running Trinity saved their best performance to the last game. Trinity came out hungry for success after a poor performance last time out against Old Wesley. The defence set the tone with great line speed and big hits. Trinity also dominated the point of contact against a back row that had former Ireland International Andy Ward.

 

With ball in hand Trinity kept the ball through multiple phases and looked dangerous throughout the game. Scrum Half Mick McLoughlin was first up to score after he kicked ahead and won the chase to touch down which was helped by a fortuitous bounce. Trinity continued to pressure. It was then the forwards turn to take a line out catch through Pierce Byrne, bring it down and push in with a well orchestrated drive,  hooker Mark Murdoch coming up with his trademark try. Out half Dave Joyce who controlled the game well, kicked two penalties and one conversion to give Trinity an 18-0 lead at half time.

 

In the second half both teams tried to play entertaining Rugby by keeping ball in hand, Trinity made several breaks that possibly should have been finished off. In the 50^th minute Trinity had a line out in the Harlequins half,  Pierce Byrne jumped high to give great off the top ball, out half Dave Joyce attacked flat against a quick drifting defence and cut through the defensive line before passing to supporting centre Conor Colclough who dotted down by the posts.

 

Trinity were not done, and typically kept possibly the best try of the season to last. From a 5 metre scrum on the Trinity line #8 Scott LaValla, who had another great all round game, used a great wheel by the forwards to break off the back. Instead of going to ground to set up the standard kicking option he drew the opposing out-half and put inside centre Conor Mills into space. Mills quickly sidestepped his opposite man and transferred the ball to outside centre Conor Colclough who fed the speed immediately out wide to Full back Tim McCoy. McCoy then took the ball 70 metres to the line for a sensational try as he nonchalantly weaved inside two cover defenders to score by the posts.

 

This was a great way to end an inconsistent season, although this was a mid table “nothing to gain” type game. It was important to the squad that they delivered a good performance after two indifferent games including the “Colours”. Interestingly this win puts Trinity into 9^th place with UCD finishing in 13^th - small consolation indeed!

 

Trinity have proven they can play and beat any team in the League. They gave League winners Lansdowne their toughest game losing narrowly, and defeated the other promotion team Bruff in December. They got losing bonus points in nearly every game. The aim has to be to find the consistency of performance that can get them to compete in this league.

 

The team hope to return the vast majority of the squad and with a very talented 2^nd XV and U20s squad pushing though, have the ingredients to compete next season. The consistency starts with each player getting his exams first time out, a good off-season of conditioning and individual skills improvement, allied with a good turn out at training camp on Monday 16th August.

 

15 Tim McCoy, 14 Neil Hanratty, 13 Conor Colclough, 12 Conor Mills, 11 Colin Murphy, 10 Dave Joyce (Andy Wallace 60), 9 Michael McLoughlin (Sam Bell 45), 1 Tristan Goodbody (Paddy McCabe 60), 2 Mark Murdoch (Craig Telford 65), 3 James Gethings, 4 Max Waters (Conor McGinn 55), 5 Pierce Byrne, 6 Dermot O’Riordan, 7 Brian Coyle, 8 Scott LaValla.

 

Other news; The Trinity 2^nd XV play Monkstown tonight at 7.30pm after last Thursday game was cancelled because of the lights failing.

 

In the Purcell Cup Trinity U20s Pennant XV have won their way to a second semi final this season, after they convincingly beat Coolmine 48-20 putting on an impressive performance. They now play St Mary’s College next week in College Park.

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