Hove  26  Trinity  32
Match report by Gerry Murphy

On a foul day on the South coast the strong crosswind and driving rain made conditions very difficult but both sides are to be commended for producing a most entertaining and absorbing game.

Hove started with some slick handling moves but the Trinity defence was solid. The hosts had a penalty chance which they missed and now the visitors came more into the game. There were good carries by Olly Hubbard, Olly Wilcox and Rhys Gormley and strong hits from Farooq Agbalaya and Marc McEvilly. A fine kick by Gormley won field position where David Williams took well in the line, but a promising opportunity went begging. Trinity were frustrated by a string of penalties against them but remained the more enterprising outfit. They battered the home line and forced Hove to clear short to touch. Unfortunately, they could not manage the line out well enough to take advantage. Eventually Hove were penalised and Ben Telfer slotted the kick for the lead after 19 minutes.

Farooq took a good catch at the kick-off, and the ball was driven well down field and chased by Trinity. It fell for Quinn Singh who kicked through and controlled the ball well, making it pop up off its end into his hands before he crashed over for the opening try.  Telfer added the extras and Trinity were well worth their 10-point lead.  They were still conceding several penalties, however, and not convinced that they were the ones infringing at the breakdown. Tom Wilcox was given a yellow card.  Hove pressed briefly but were then penalised and Telfer put in a long relieving kick.  Then Hove gave away another penalty, and Telfer was able to win a strong position on the 22.  The 14 men were not afraid to take the game to Hove and, after a lovely take in the line by Ben Vaillant, they moved the ball right and a huge bullocking run by McEvilly opened up space for Telfer to fly through and score Trinity’s second try. Trinity were now rampant with Harry Wilson and Adam Sheehy enjoying plenty of opportunities to get the team moving.  Though still a man down, they made several sallies into the home half with Singh and Hubbard leading the charge.  Some wild passes stemmed the flow but then a lovely move left opened up the defence and McEvilly gleefully claimed the score for a 20-0 lead. There was more as Hubbard made ground and Wilcox returned to the fray with his usual powerful tackling.  Hove were penalised. Telfer found the corner and Trinity moved the ball right and then back left for McEvilly to unload to Ty Williams on the wing for Trinity’s bonus point try after 39 minutes.

Trinity were well pleased and were winding down for a well-earned rest at half-time but, because of some injuries, 7 minutes were added, and Hove fashioned a good handling move to enable them to register a 7 pointer with the last play of the half.

Trinity were at it again early in the second half and, after a strong run from Telfer, McEvilly took it on and passed to Gormley who skipped over and around behind the posts for Telfer to convert and bring the tally to 32 – 7. The rain now came down in torrents and the scribe’s notes disintegrated. Memories from the gloom include a fine take in the line and carry through by Vaillant, at least one turnover from the indefatigable Ali Hall and numerous tackles from David Williams and Wilson.  Hove put on a lot of pressure and their strong line out was put to good use. Mids defended well and won a penalty which Telfer kicked skilfully up the line, measuring the wind to gain maximum yardage.  There was one lapse on 66 minutes when the Hove No.8 took the ball in the line out and went straight through to score. The conversion reduced the margin to 13 points.

The kick-off went dead, and Hove piled on more pressure, forcing a yellow card for Trinity.  A succession of penalties meant more last ditch defending with Hove knowing that 2 converted tries would steal the game for them.  Another yellow card reduced Trinity to 13 but the depleted scrum, with Hall, Lewis Chin-You, David Hoffmann and Jasper Brown able to rotate, defended heroically. They kept their shape and no quarter was given.   At one point they won a scrum penalty under their own posts. Hove failed to score until the last play of the game and Trinity were worthy winners,