UL Bohemians 13pts – Trinity 42pts; 27th February 2016

Trinity had another impressive bonus point win on Saturday when they convincingly defeated UL Bohemians with a five-try win in Annacotty on the outskirts of Limerick.

Trinity started the game by controlling possession and were awarded a penalty early on with out half Jack McDermott kicking the points.

Trinity followed this with a superb try when off several phases, loose-head prop Eric O’Sullivan burst free to show his undoubted ball skills to put wing Tim Maupin in for a try  in the corner. Jack McDermott expertly kicked the conversion from the sideline.

UL Bohs then had their inevitable purple patch and put severe pressure on the student line with their highly motivated, aggressive and physical pack. They first kicked a penalty and followed this up with an impressive driven line out by their forwards to close the score to 10-8.

McDermott kicked another penalty. Then it was the Trinity forwards who flexed their muscles to drive the massive home pack over their line from a line out, *8 Tom Ryan going over from close range. 18-8 at half time Trinity would have been happy with their lead given the run of play.

In the second half Jack McDermott kicked another penalty to increase the score to 21-8. Bohs had their opportunities to score, but Trinity managed to keep them out with solid defence. The students then broke out to run the field, only to be held up. From a line out on the Bohs 5 metre line, the Trinity forwards drove in another try but were stopped illegally. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try under the posts.

28-8 up Trinity upped the tempo and went for the fourth try and bonus point. From a Bohs scrum Trinity drove them off the ball and *8 Tom Ryan picked and went for the line. From the lightning quick ruck, scrum half Angus Lloyd dived in just inside the corner flag.

The teams still continued to battle hard with Trinity having to do their fair share of defending.  Student centre Seb Fromm then stepped through the defence and sped away to finish an excellent break to score a well taken try.

This was an important win for Trinity who now embark on the business part of their season. They play 3rd place Ballymena next weekend in College Park (2.30pm KO) which is effectively a game to decide who gets at least second place in the League and a home play off. Ballymena was far too good for the students back in September and can boast an Ulster A quality team. Trinity will have to be at their absolute best and more to get a result against them.

Trinity team; 15 Conor Kearns, 14 Tim Maupin, 13 Paddy Lavelle (Michael Courtney 65),12 Seb Fromm, 11 Max McFarland, 10 Jack McDermott, 9 Angus Lloyd (Brian Slater 68), 1 Eric O’Sullivan, 2 Patrick Finlay (Warren Larkin 68), 3 Andy Keating (Tom Collis 65), 4 Jack Burke, 5 Cian O’Dwyer, 6 Nick McCarthy (Sam Pim 68), 7 Brian Du Toit, 8 Tom Ryan;