Old Tiffinians  57  Trinity  14

Trinity were looking forward to a similar performance to last year’s heroic effort when they ran this talented outfit very close.

However, availability was sadly lacking and the efforts of the gallant players who turned out were unlikely to be enough. From the off Trinity were under the cosh. Good carrying from Farooq Agbalaya and a strong tackle by Ty Williams helped them stem the tide of some flowing attacks from the home backs and Tiffinians butchered a golden opportunity to score in the right corner. Trinity were further hampered by conceding 4 penalties in quick succession and were aggrieved that some of their line out throws were deemed not straight while those of the opposition, which were, if anything, more off line, were allowed. They held out for 11 minutes, but Tiffs opened their account while playing advantage when they mauled to the line and the flanker got the touchdown. Mids then had a promising passage of play when they drove into the hosts’ half. Farooq took a good line out ball and then a strong scrum allowed Marc McEvilly to make one of his powerful runs. However, a promising position went wrong when the ball went loose. Tiffs exploited the opportunity and hacked on, eventually controlling the ball well before winning the race for the touchdown and their second try.

Trinity came again and put pressure on the home line, but Tiffs defended well.  They broke out and only another fine tackle by Farooq prevented more damage. Trinity were competing well but and won a penalty but then touch was missed, a mistake that was repeated three times in the afternoon, even with a change of kicker. Tiffins capitalised again and produced another good move out of defence to score their third try, which they converted. Things got worse for Trinity when the referee took exception to remarks from the touchline, following a Trinity line out throw that was deemed not straight when supporters from both sides saw it as fine and coach Edwards was warned. Tiffs then drove the visitors’ scrum back, something they have hardly experienced this season and forced a penalty.  This was kicked to the corner.  Trinity defended the resultant driving maul well but were penalised and Farooq was yellow carded as they were on a warning for conceding too many penalties in their own half. Trinity continued to hold out and Tiffs knocked on.  Sadly, the weakened pack was driven off the ball and Tiffs scored their fourth try. Trinity did well to keep the score at 24-0 for the rest of the half.

Things did not start well for the visitors when the kick-off for the second half was not 10. Williams then showed the way with a fine turnover, but the penalty missed touch. Trinity kept pressing and when Tiffs were penalised again in midfield Ben Vaillant took a quick tap.  From a ruck Tim Jupp produced a swift offload to Jack Greenwood who stepped and skipped his way to the line for a try which he converted. Soon Trinity were back in the game after good work from Farooq, who was now back on.  Vaillant chipped ahead and tackled to force a penalty and  Mids were quickly on the line for Jupp to claim their second try. Greenwood converted to reduce the deficit.  At 24-14, with half an hour remaining, Mids dared to hope. The unforced errors returned, however, and despite some tigerish tackling form Adam Stammers and Andy Dean and a promising surge from the Agbalaya brothers Fouad and Farooq, the home team now rook charge. Dom Plumb and Toby Plant came on to compete alongside tiring teammates.  Tiffs were now dominant in the scrum and punished Mids for not finding touch and allowing their talented backs to run freely. They scored 33 points in the last 30 minutes.

Another yellow card for Mids, a pushover try and a second failure to kick off properly aided this heavy total. Farooq, Jupp and Stammers resisted to the end, but it was too much to ask, and Trinity will be disappointed to lose so heavily.  It must be said that they were up against a very talented team, but they will need stronger representation if they are to do better in their next two fixtures against opponents less highly placed in the league.

MATCH REPORT by Gerry Murphy
TRIBE ADVISORY PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Tim Jupp