Photo Courtesy of Sam McAllister


Trinity 24pts, St Marys 37pts; March 25th 2017

 

Trinity were outplayed for most of Saturday’s AIL 1A fixture on a gloriously sunny day in College Park. The Students had their opportunities but the visitors, led by Leinster’s mercurial out half and ex-Trinity man, Cathal Marsh, were good value for their 5 tries to 4 win.

 

With Marsh pulling the strings and with six former Trinity players in their squad, St Mary’s got off to a flying start as they scored three tries in the first 20 minutes. Trinity came back to score a penalty try from a scrum close in after the Students laid siege to the St Marys line. DUFC also had an opportunity right on half time, but poor execution let them down with the line at their mercy.

 

In the second half Trinity came more into the game, and played some fluent rugby. Winger Brian Mollen scored out wide after a wonderful bit of skill from U20s out half James Fennelly, but St Marys came back when their Irish 7s full back, Terry Kennedy, countered a clearance kick and took advanatage of some poor defence to score out wide, giving St Marys a bonus point for a hugely pivotal try.

 

Trinity came back to score a length-of-the-field try when full back, Colm Hogan, back from the Irish U20s Six Nations squad, broke out of defence in his own 22. He ran to the Marys 22 where he linked with Brian Mollen. Following a quick recyle, Hogan scored after another half break by sub scrum half Rowan Osborne.

 

The home team then went full on for a bonus point. Trinity’s four tries was crucial to stay clear of the relegation bottom two. The red. & whites utilised multi-phase rugby with scrum half Osborne to the fore; he had several touches along with his U20s half back partner Fennelly. Plus, after sub hooker Jack Boland carried well with Michael Silvester, Fennelly set up right wing Tim Maupin in for a crucial score out wide.

 

This was a disappointing loss for Trinity who were beaten out of the traps from the first whistle. They had opportunities but failed to convert more into scores. 

They now go into the ‘Colours’ on April 7th still needing the points to avoid the play off game for relegation.

 

15 Colm Hogan, 14 Tim Maupin, 13 Michael Courtney, 12 Kyle Dixon, 11 Brian Mollen (Michael Silvester 60), 10 James Fennelly, 9 Brian Slater (Rowan Osborne 50), 1 Eric O’Sullivan, 2 Patrick Finlay, 3 Charlie Connolly (Tom Collis 65), 4 Jack Burke, 5 Raef Tyrell (Cian O’Dywer 50), 6 Pierce Dargan, 7 Richard Dunne (Jack Boland 65), 8 Tom Ryan.