With 20 minutes to go in this AIBL game in College park, Trinity looked dead and buried as far as the match was concerned as they trailed a well drilled Bruff team 26pts to 10. But the students displayed superb conditioning and team spirit to come back and clinch a very important League win.

 

Trinity opened the game in attacking fashion enjoying the good conditions and really taking the game to Bruff who started the game in the top three of the league. Bruff looked up to the task and their well marshalled defence scrambled to keep out the free running home team.

 

Bruff opened the scoring when from a five man line out they broke through the home defence to score under the posts after their #8 offloaded to the centre coming through at pace. Trinity fell further behind when they lost a line out on their own throw.  Bruff attacked hard on the turnover, the play looked over only for a superbly delayed off load from the floor by their centre, to put the supporting out-half away under the posts. 14-0 down, and playing some good attacking rugby of their own seemed an unkind score line for the students. They then got some of their own luck when captain and flanker Johnny Iliff intercepted a long speculative pass in the Bruff backs. 14-7 at half time.

 

In the second half Full back Andy Wallace kicked a penalty to narrow the lead. But then Bruff seized another line out turnover to crash over from close in. They followed this up with another try when their centre ran through a defensive lapse from the home team. 26-10 ahead and a bonus point already in the bag the Co Limerick team looked ready to take the spoils.

 

The home team obviously had other ideas!

 

Trinity kept attacking, and substitute centre Conor Colclough, clearly out to prove a point, split the visitors defence on a great 40 metre break. At the tackle the forwards cleared quickly, co centre Richard Brady took the ball on again, as the ball was quickly recycled for a second time. Replacement Scrum half Michael McLoughlin responded to a call from his left wing Colin Murphy and attacked a narrow blind side executing a classic ‘two on one’ . Murphy scored out wide. Out half David Joyce kicked the conversion.

 

The try clearly lifted the home team and crowd, who suddenly came to life. Off the restart Trinity continued to attack as the Bruff team began to visibly fatigue. The home forwards hit the contact points with renewed vigour and the backs ran at the opposition using the width of the field. After several phases the visitors were stretched all over the field.  #8 Brian Coyle carved through a large gap in the defence off a great pass by Dave Joyce and took three defenders over the line with him from 25 metres out to score by the posts. Trinity now trailed 26-24 with ten minutes to go. They took the game to Bruff in wave after wave of attacks and were rewarded with a penalty from 45 metres out. Dave Joyce declined to kick to the corner taking the advice of the home supporters, but instead lined up a long range penalty. He slotted it no worries!!

 

The score was now an incredible 27-26 to Trinity. Bruff were totally off their feet clearly faltering at the speed of the game and the intensity of the home team comeback.

 

Trinity sniffing a bonus point of their own were not going to let this opportunity go as they moved the ball from everywhere. Mick McLoughlin celebrated his return after injury with another devastating break up the right touch line leaving the home defence in his wake with a great burst of speed. He cut back inside the last man to pass to Brian Coyle who took the ball to the line but was held up over the line by desperate Bruff defence. Crucially a Bruff defender used illegal means to stop quick ball from the ruck and was sin binned. From the ensuing scrum Trinity who had been on the back foot in this department for most of the game audaciously went for the push over. The experienced Bruff pack used all the tricks in the trade to keep them out. But on the fifth reset the visiting scrum half illegally dived into the Trinity scrum as they were driving over the line. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try as the Trinity team and supporters roared their approval!!

 

Bruff came back off the restart and were awarded three penalties in a row that gave them position to kick a penalty to get a second bonus point for losing within seven points.

 

This was a superb much needed win for Trinity who now take a Christmas break. They return in the New Year with an AIBL game at Donnybrook Vs Bective Rangers on the 9^th January 2010.

 

Other news; Trinity 2nds had a hard fought 9-8 win over Blackrock 2^nd XV in College Park on Sunday. The students probably deserved to win the game by a larger margin as they dominated the ball and field position against a strong Blackrock outfit including several former Trinity players and coach Mark McGinty.

 

Trinity U20s Pennant team drew 15-15 against St Marys in a game they also dominated, playing some superb running rugby after falling behind early. They missed two kicks in front of the posts late on.

 

Trinity 3rds also drew 15-15 with RCSI