Old Wesley 10pts Trinity 13pts; October 17th 2015

Trinity made the short trip to Donnybrook to play undefeated league leaders and newcomers to 1B Old Wesley. The home team have been on a great run, they have not lost in Donnybrook since the famous old stadium went to an all weather pitch, which is well over a year ago.

The game started without really any drama, the students looked very comfortable, they scored a superb try off a set move when outside centre Kingsley McGowan was put into space, he fed speedy full back Conor Kearns who ran in from 60 metres out. Trinity’s aggressive defence was all over the Wesley attack, which really struggled to get their game plan in gear.

Trinity looked far more dangerous with ball in hand and seemed to rip the home team apart in the backs at every opportunity. Trinity missed two or three kicks at goal plus conversions. They scored another try just before half time when left wing Max McFarland was put away after Angus Lloyd took a quick penalty to put him away. 10-3 up at half time should have been 20+ points such was the dominance of the students.

The second half brought a massive momentum shift, mainly due to the ill discipline of the student’s, it started with Wing Tim Maupin being penalized for a high tackle in the corner was shown a yellow card. Tim was followed by prop Andy Keating (high tackle), Kingsley McGowan (not using his arms in a tackle) and incredibly Conor Kearns (foot trip)! Trinity was down to 11 players for three minutes, plus they lost their captain Paddy Lavelle with a knee injury. Amazingly Old Wesley could not force a score, a combination of poor option taking by the home team and heroic scrambling defence by the students. During this time Trinity broke up field to force a penalty, which out half Jack McDermott kicked 13-3 Trinity.

When the students got back to 14 players the home team got back to one score. When Trinity got back to the full XV they looked comfortable and closed the game down deep in Wesley territory.

This was an absolute nail biter for the Trinity players, coaches and supporters alike. They will have to learn to keep their discipline in adverse situations. The win is the second in two games against ‘top 3’ opposition. This win puts the Students into 5th place in the league with 5 games played.

15 Conor Kearns, 14 Tim Maupin, 13 Kingsley McGowan, 12 Paddy Lavelle (Michael Courtney 55), 11 Max McFarland, 10 Jack McDermott, 9 Angus Lloyd, 1 Eric O’Sullivan (Andy Keating 35), 2 Jack Boland (Matt McCann 75), 3 Tom Collis, 4 Jack Burke, 5 Raef Tyrell, 6 Conor Gleeson (Nick McCarthy 50), 7 Brian Du Toit, 8 Tom Ryan.

Other results; On Tuesday night Trinity Senior 2nds beat Seapoint 26-3 under lights in College Park. It was a game where the forwards struggled to win consistent ball against an experienced visitors pack, but the backs played some superb running rugby to score four tries, which got the team a bonus point. The Senior 2nds travel to Naas on Monday night for another league game.

Trinity U20s Premier XV also play Monday night at home to Old Belvedere in College Park at 7.30pm.

Trinity U20s Pennant XV who are the only 2nd XV in the Leinster Premier league 2 this season, had their first league game in Templeville road, when they played St Mary’s College U20s. The students had a difficult start when the home team took the lead. Trinity kicked into gear and played some outstanding rugby against a well-drilled home outfit. The team filled mainly by freshman (18 on the squad) scored some fabulous tries to win out 38-16.

Trinity Womens XV who have new coaches in Trinity senior players, Brian Slater, Tom Ryan and Killian O’Leary. They hosted Belfield neighbors UCD in College Park on Wednesday. The Trinity girls ripped into their UCD counterparts playing some well-structured rugby. They won out 38-0 in front of a large home crowd.

Trinity 3rds and 4ths had byes this weekend.

Next Saturday, Four Trinity squads play in the Inter varsity ‘Festival of Rugby’ at Terenure College.

The 1st XV will compete in the historic Dudley Cup

The U20s squad will be defending the Conroy Cup, the trophy they have won the passed two years.

The 3rds/4th Squad will be competing in the Maughan Scally Trophy

The reinvented Womens Squad will be playing in the Kay Bowen Trophy.

 

Universities will be from all over Ireland include, Trinity, UCD, UCC, Queens, NUIG (Galway) UUJ (Jordanstown), NUIM (Maynooth).