Old Belvedere 7pts Trinity 27pts – November 12th 2016

Dublin University bounced back in fine style to claim a very impressive 27-7 win over Old Belvedere, running in four tries in the process.

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From the disappointment of last Saturday’s home defeat to Lansdowne to the satisfaction of coming away from Anglesea Road with five well-earned points, the students returned to winning ways with two tries in each half.

Trinity U20s out half James Fennelly, who had an impressive debut at out-half in the absence of Jack McDermott and Tommy Whittle, slotted over a 40 metre penalty for a 3-0 Trinity lead, and his half-back partner Daniel Joyce was instrumental in the first try, wriggling out of a tackle close to the touchline before the next phase saw hooker Paddy Finlay plunge over.

Fennelly converted and the visitors added a second try before half-time, their patience being rewarded when Centre Kyle Dixon carried hard to get near the line and off the quick recycle Fennelly put strong-running full-back Jack Kelly in for a try out wide.

Despite some decent direction from Willie Staunton and Charlie Rock at half-back, Belvedere struggled to unlock the visitors’ defence and they leaked their third try in the third quarter, falling a full 22 points behind.

Trinity’s most impressive feature on the day was their defence, as the white wall across the field looked tough to penetrate. Turnovers were proving costly for Belvo. Pierce Dargan snaffled his third lineout steal for the students and then winger Colm Hogan’s timely defensive read near his own try-line saw Trinity win the ball back and centre Michael Courtney had the gas to race the length of the pitch for a seven-pointer that really stung the hosts.

Trinity got their bonus point try when after some more heavy pressure on the hosts line, out half James Fennelly broke blind and passed to Colm Hogan who was a constant menace to the home defence all day. He beat his man on the outside with some lovely footwork to run in his fifth try of the campaign following a terrific Trinity scrum.

Old Belvedere came back hard at the end of the game but the Trinity defence was excellent. Belvo did score very late on which would have annoyed the Trinity team but the Students walk away with five points.

Trinity now take a two-week break. Next up in College Park is Cork Con, historically one of the perennial powerhouses of the All Ireland League. Both teams have won 5 games lost 2, so it will be another match up.

TRINITY TEAM: Jack Kelly; Bryan Mollen, Michael Courtney, Kyle Dixon, Colm Hogan; James Fennelly, Daniel Joyce; Eric O’Sullivan, Paddy Finlay, Andy Keating, Jack Burke (capt), Pierce Dargan, Sam Pim, Dermot O’Flynn, Tom Ryan.

Replacements: Liam Cronin, Fintan Murphy, Cian O’Dwyer, Evan Dixon, James O’Donovan.

Other news:

Trinity 2nds had a bye, they play next at Seapoint on Friday night 8pm KO.

Trinity U20s Premier lost their first game of the season v UCD U20s 26-18. UCD blitzed Trinity in the first half and ran up a 23-3 lead at half time. But Trinity turned the tables and scored three unanswered tries but missed the conversions in a 3 tries each encounter.

Trinity U20s Pennant XV beat their UCD counter parts 32-20 in well-played game.

Trinity 3rds lost to Coolmine 22-20