TRINITY WIN IN LIMERICK!
21/01/2012

Thomond 3pts –Trinity 30pts; January 29^th 2012

After a six week break from All Ireland League action, Trinity travelled to Limerick to play the always difficult Munster outfit. After a very dry January the heavens opened and the game was played in constant train. Both teams started the game with many errors as they struggled to come to terms with the slippery ball. Captain and out half Dave Joyce kicked an early penalty but Thomond came straight back with a penalty of their own.

The first half will be remembered for a goal line stand by Trinity just before half time, Thomond camped on the Students line but could not get over. Trinity proved why they have the best defensive record in the league and seemed to enjoy knocking the home team’s runners back to where they had come! Trinity seemed to get a huge lift from this defensive stand and the energy levels raised  considerably after that period of play. 3-3 at half time the home team probably felt a little unlucky not to be ahead against the league leaders given the run of play.

In the second half Trinity upped the tempo of the game and dominated from the opening whistle as they kept the ball through multiple phases. Dave Joyce kicked another penalty, this was quickly followed by an outstanding collect, gather and score by centre Ariel Robles who showed some superb individual skill after chasing a little grubber kick from his Captain.

After this score (11-3 to Trinity) the home team seemed to fall away spiritually and the students once in the ascendency pushed their superiority home. Wave after wave of attacks made huge chunks of ground. Inside centre Paddy Lavelle was next on the team sheet when he took an inside pass off scrum half Mick McLoughlin.

Prop Ian Hirst incredibly added the next two tries when he scored from close in on his first effort, but then showed a deceptive burst of speed to beat two defenders and run in under the posts from 20 metres out.

This was a great second half performance by the students in very difficult sticky conditions. It was very difficult to play an expansive game, it was impressive the way they played on a narrower front and still got the much needed bonus point for four tries scored.

Trinity now head the Division Two league table after nine games. They play 5^th place Malone in College Park on Saturday at 2.30pm. All support will be very welcome..

Trinity 35pts

DLSP 32pts

Queens 30pts

Greystones 30pts

Malone 25pts

Trinity Team; 15 James o’Donoghue. 14 Neil Hanratty, 13 Ariel Robles, 12 Paddy Lavelle, 11 Niyi Adeolukan (Ciaran Wade 60), 10 Dave Joyce, 9 Mick McLouglin (Billy Glynn 65), 1 Ian Hirst, 2 Tim O’Mahony (Warren Larkin 55), 3 Ed Tate (Paul McFeely 35), 4 Colin MacDonnell, 5 Jack Kelly, 6 Brendan O’Connell (John Iliff 50), 7 Dominic Gallagher, 8 Jack Dilger ;

U20s Premier lost a heartbreaker on the plastic pitch in Lansdowne Road 21-18 in a very close encounter against top of the league Lansdowne. The game could have gone either way with Trinity playing most of the running rugby on the day. The teams scored two tries apiece with the home team scoring in the last three minutes. Trinity now play St Marys in College Park in two weeks for what is effectively a spot in the All Ireland U21s Quarter Finals.

 

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