KCS OLD BOYS 27-31 TRINITY
Trinity took the field minus their captain Harry Wilson, who fell ill and was unable to start. The team stepped up well, however, and despite an early penalty goal for Kings, took the play to the hosts with plenty of attacking rugby, declining a kick to tie the scores.

They were rewarded after 11 minutes when Josh Joubert, proving a very able deputy for Wilson, made a break. The move continued with another break by Quinn Singh and the ball was kept alive for Khalil Alleyne to dash for the line. The ball went loose but Joubert was there to score. George Kimmins converted for a 7-3 lead. Kings now suffered a yellow card, but it was they who dominated the next period with some fine handling. Tom Wilcox put in a big tackle, but it was Trinity who were now carded and Kimmins had to go to the bin.

Kings had some powerful carriers and chose to run the close penalty. Trinity did well to weather the storm and came away with a penalty when Kings seemed to have scored but were penalised for a double movement. They were then penalised again on halfway and Alleyne spotted a gap to weave his way through and sprint clear to the line for another 7 pointer. The 14-3 lead was short-lived as Kings came again and won another penalty close in. This time their carriers could not be stopped, and they narrowed the gap to 14-10. Kings had now found their rhythm and dominated territory.

A crunching tackle by Archie McMillan checked them for a while but another penalty allowed their strong carriers to repeat their earlier move and gain the lead at 17-14 after 33 minutes. Trinity had a good chance to reply but, when they declined a shot at goal and went for the corner, the move did not produce. Half time came without any further scoring.

The visitors started the second half in style with some lively interplay but were penalised for crossing. An injury to Ted Wilkie brought Tom Black on to the Trinity side. He continued Wilkie’s good work in the line out and carried and passed tidily for the remainder of the game. Kings conceded a second yellow card and Trinity created a promising position from which they should have scored but suffered the indignity of having the ball ripped close in. On 55 minutes, however, they managed to steal a home line out and the ball was moved quickly left to give Ben Edmonson the chance to show his strength and pace to beat the defence on the outside and touch down. The conversion was missed the visitors were now 19-17 to the good.

Kingston then won a penalty at the breakdown to regain a one-point lead. It was Trinity, however, who had more invention now and they put in some fine running with winger Tom Fairclough showing how. Alleyne was making a nuisance of himself, and Olly Hubbard won a trademark turnover. Trinity again declined a kick and went for the corner, but the kick went dead. The reward came shortly later when Farooq Agbalaya took a good catch in the line and the ball was moved right. Singh made ground and unloaded to McMillan who found an able finisher in Fairclough. 24-20 was a narrow lead but Trinity’s tails were up and quick thinking by Joubert saw him take a tap penalty and pass to Alleyne who finished well for his second try. Kimmins added the extras and 31 -20 was a comfortable lead with 7 minutes left. It was not that comfortable, however, as Kings put in a fierce onslaught at the end. It seemed they were bound to score when their powerful centre broke clear but a tap-tackle by Fairclough seemed to come from nowhere won valuable time. Trinity had to concentrate to keep Kings out in the last moves. This they did well with two fine tackles form Ben Vaillant, some strong carrying from Black and a crowning turnover from man-of- the- match Alleyne.

When Kings did eventually score they had time just to convert and the final whistle left Trinity with another hard-fought victory in this very competitive league.

Match Report by Gerry Murphy
Tribe Man of the Match: Khalil Alleyne

More photos via Neil Pepper’s Faceboak page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2297494210