Trinity ran out comprehensive 38-14 winners in last Saturday’s unofficial ‘’Colours’’ game at College Park, help extending their unbeaten run to 18 games. However the game may have gone the way of the visitors were it not for various errors at crucial times in the first half.
The first score of the game came when UCD fullback Barry Daly made a superb break from inside his own 22, viagra the ball was recycled quickly and winger Patrick Dix straightened well to barge into the opponents 22, ambulance the pressure eventually led to a penalty for a ruck time infringement which Thornton slotted to give the visitors a 0-3 lead nine minutes into the game.
However this lead was cancelled out on 15 minutes when Trinity outhalf David Joyce scored following a penalty from a UCD scrum. Three minutes later Trinity increased their lead when a mix up between Alex Kelly and Patrick Dix resulted in a knock on. The ball was gathered by flying DU winger Niyi Adeolukan, Joyce converted and the score remained 10-3. This lead was short lived however, as from the restart UCD earned a penalty for blocking. From the resulting 22 drop out, Risteard Byrne charged down Joyce’s kick, the ball was knocked on by Trinity’s Patrick Lavelle, and following a strong carry from Alex Kelly, the ball was moved wide with Barry Daly touching down in the right hand corner. Thornton was wide with the conversion attempt and the score remained 10-8 until half time.
At half time the match truly was in the balance, both sides were competing well at the breakdown and kicking well for position, in fact were it not for some superb poaching work on the deck from Brian du Toit and Jack Dilger, UCD probably would have had more first half scores.
The second half began with an almost immediate UCD penalty, Thornton adding the points to make it 11-10. Disaster struck when flanker Shane Grannell knocked on the restart, Trinity re-gathered and after sustained pressure from the forwards outhalf Joyce waltzed in under the posts.
UCD’s next foray into their opponents half saw a strong surge from Mark McGroarty, coupled with an excellent offload to Daly in support. Trinity flanker Pierce Dargan fouled the ball in an extremely cynical fashion, and was duly sent to the bin. One would feel that were it not for the infringement, Collidge would have surely scored at least five points. Thornton added the points. From the restart UCD found themselves five yards off their own line after a communication breakdown between two players both going for the same ball. With the ball stripped in contact, Trinity’s Du Toit capitalised with another DU try.
The score was now 24-14 on 52 minutes. UCD began to feel the need to chase the game. They did have one more great break into DU’s half, the ball was slowed down illegally by Trinity fullback David Fannagan, who was promptly sent to the bin. Collidge ran the penalty, but again their breakdown efforts let them down and the ball was stolen by Trinity hooker Warren Larkin.
This was to be UCD’s last serious foray into the DU 22. Trinity’s forwards began to dominate the tight exchanges, Mclaughlin putting prop Ian Hirst away with a George Gregan like backwards pass on 77 minutes converted by Joyce to make it 31-14. The game ended with another Trinity try for Niyi Adeolukan, after a great piece of skill from replacement outhalf Cathal Marsh to put him in space. Marsh converted and the game ended 38-14.
This will be a tough defeat for Collidge as one would feel had they made the most of their opportunities early on they would probably have one the game, instead small mistakes at crucial points in the game resulted in them finding themselves chasing the game and losing their shape midway throughthe second half.
UCD: James Tracey, Risteard Byrne, Kieran Moloney, Emmet McMahon, Brian Cawley, Shane Grannell, Mark McGroarty, Eoin Joyce, Jamie Glynn, James Thornton, Adam Byrne, Stephen Murphy, Alex Kelly, Patrick Dix, Barry Daly.
Subs used: Adam Clarkin, Josh van der Flyer, Niall Earls.
By Ceithreann Murphy
