TRINITY GO ‘OH SO’ CLOSE!

Cork Con 25PTS – Trinity 22PTS – 9th November 2019

After two good wins over Garryowen and Lansdowne respectively, Trinity travelled to Cork Con on Saturday looking for their first win in the All Ireland league era in Temple Hill. They took the All Ireland champions and current league leaders to literally the last kick of the game before succumbing to a 50 Metre penalty from the home team to lose 25-22.

 

Trinity started with a strong wind at their backs. Michael O’Kennedy kicked an early penalty but Cork Con rallied to score a try after several charges at the Trinity line..

 

Trinity played some of their best rugby of the season thus far, and scored two tries before half time. The first was a cracker when after several phases, the ball was moved wide to left wing Ronan Quinn, who chipped the ball over the drifting defence and beat the cover defence for a brilliant ‘chip and chase’ effort.

 

This was followed by some more pressure and after Colm Hogan looked to have forced a ‘penalty try’ for deliberate knock on out on the right wing, the forwards took control and after several rucks near the line new Leinster scrum half Rowan Osborne (playing his first game of the season for Trinity) scored from in close. Trinity went into half time 15-7 ahead.

 

Facing the stiff wind Trinity attacked from everywhere, but some sloppy play ended with Cork Con hitting a long range penalty in front of the posts. Cork Con dominated the 3rd quarter and scored two tries from line out mauls. The home team looked set for a good win, but the students had other ideas and played some sensational rugby ripping the well marshalled home defence apart.

 

No 8 Patrick Nulty finished an impressive attack by placing the ball at the foot of the home goalpost pads. Trinity now looked set for a historic win with Cork Con clearly fatigued and on the ropes. The physicality from both sides was venomous, as the hosts tried everything to stop the Trinity attacks. A marginal forward pass was pulled back with the defence beaten. From this Cork Con kept the ball for a couple of phases before the students were judged to have “high tackled”. It was an surprising call by the referee after the “anything goes” physicality of play for the ten minutes before this incident.. up stepped Irish U20s centre James French who kicked the ball 50M for a tough unlikely win.

 

Despite the disappointment of the last play loss Trinity should be proud of their performance and efforts. They will need to get back on the bike very quickly with newly promoted Ballynahinch coming to College park next weekend November 16th 2.30pm KO.

 

Trinity J1s lost to league leaders Lansdowne 41pts to 25.

Trinity U20s Premier XV kept their undefeated record alive with an impressive 38-18 win over Terenure College in Lakelands.

Trinity U20s B team who were also undefeated lost to a highly controversial 10pts try v Galwegians 30-29.

Trinity Senior 3rds game V Tallaght was rained off.

Trinity Senior 4ths lost to Carlow 24-12pts.

Trinity Women lost to league leaders Barnhall 15-0