TRINITY WIN IN OXFORD!!
15/03/2006

Oxford University 18pts – Trinity 19pts

Trinity travelled to Iffley road on Wednesday and came away with a tremendous win -their first over Oxford in four years. Trinity down several players who had their business exams fielded a young experimental XV and the team never took a backward step as they continually took the game to their more experienced rivals.

Trinity started the game on the back foot as Oxford with eight ‘blues’ from December confidently took them through the phases. Oxford scored an early penalty to take the lead. The visitors cam back well and began to piece together some of their own patterns as they displayed some outstanding continuity with backs and forwards handling the ball superbly. They did manage to score a superb try when 18 years old debutant out half Micheal Boland made a half break to put inside centre Tom Burns in for a well taken try. This was a great try for Tommy Burns playing his first 1st XV game in two seasons.

Oxford kicked a penalty and scored a close in try from their forwards before Trinity struck again with Burns who had an outstanding evening making the final pass to flanker Philip Rowe after several players had handled. 11-10 Oxford at half time.

In the second half, Trinity had the advantage of the slope and a breeze. Because of this they dominated field position for the majority of the second half, but struggled to score another try although they did go close on several occasions. The Trinity forwards physically took the game to their more senior counterparts, but lack of accuracy at the crucial times seemed to foil them. They had to rely on the boot of Micheal Boland who kicked two well taken penalties to give the visitors a 16-11 lead going into the closing moments of the game.

Trinity looked to have the game won as they dominated possession and territory, but to their credit Oxford came back and played their best rugby of the game moving the ball from side to side as the Trinity defence was stretched to the absolute limit. After what seemed like several minutes on the ball Oxford squeezed in after a loose pass was picked up and taken into the corner to score. Amazingly the Oxford inside centre converted into the wind to put his team into an some what undeserved lead and potentially match winning kick.

Now into injury time, Trinity raced back to the half way line and kicked off. They put pressure on the home team who conceded a line out 35 metres out. The forwards put together a massive catch and drive that took them thirty metres right up to the Oxford line. The maul eventually came to a stop and the ball was put back to Micheal Boland who ‘cool as you like’ slotted the drop goal.

The game was not over Oxford regained the ball and launched another attack. Trinity were adjudged to have infringed and the Oxford Kicker stepped up to attempt a long range penalty into the wind right out on the right touch line. Fortunately for Trinity he did not come close. Needless to say the students celebrated their rare win in ‘Vincents’ late into the night.

This was the third win in a row for this Trinity squad and hopefully this result will give them confidence for their hugely important AIL game with Ballymena next Saturday in College park.

15 Colm Coyle, 14 Shane Hanratty, 13 Paul Gillespie, 12 Tom Burns, 11 Ronan Doherty, 10 Micheal Boland, 9 Mark O’Neill, 1 David Rowe, 2 Matt Crockett, 3 Killian O’Neill, 4 Darren O’Reilly, 5 Marc Warburton, 6 Philip Rowe (Ross Condren 60), 7 Hugh Hogan, 8 Martin Garvey,

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