TRINITY START SEASON WITH TOUGH TWO WEEKS
02/09/2010
Trinity started training with a training camp on 16th -20th August – two sessions a day. The turn out was good with 50+ players in attendance. The week included fitness testing and training sessions that included all aspects of the game from skills and drills to set piece to team patterns. The week finished on the Friday with a trial game V Monkstown. The students put out three separate teams for 25 minutes a period.
The following week Trinity travelled to Sligo having been invited to celebrate their Centenary.The two day trip worked as a great bonding session for the 32 players and also included an excellent team building/goal setting module put together by new captain Scott LaValla. They played Sligo RFC in the evening in what turned out to be an exciting and very physical game as Sligo are pushing to get into the re-structured AIL next season. Sligo jumped out to a 22-5 lead at half time only for the students to pull back to pip them at the end 31-27. After the game the students were hosted in true Rugby style and the festivities were enjoyed by all.
The next morning at 8am the lads had a ‘recovery session’ in the ocean and followed this with a “team walk” up “Croagh Patrick”. Trinity scrum half Mick McLoughlin hails from Westport and his parents kindly put on a memorable spread of food for the players when they completed their walk which was appreciated by every member of the touring party. Thanks so much to Mr and Mrs McLoughlin for their last minute arrangements as they did not know we were coming until the night before - it was fantastic!!
On Saturday Trinity visited Division 1A Old Belvedere at 1st and 2nd XV levels in the Leinster League. The home team won both games convincingly 43-15 and 23-0. The home team fielded a strong and settled team whereas the students were down a few men for different reasons. This of course gave opportunities to others. Trinity were competitive and played well for the first thirty and last twenty minutes. It was the middle period of the game either side of half time where they conceded most of the scores.
Next week Trinity host Clontarf in College Park at 1st and 2nd XV levels in their second Leinster League game. KO times are 1.30am for the 2nds and 3pm for the 1st XV. This will be another tough game and the Students will have to up their game to be competitive.
