Trinity 20 Old Rutlishians 10
Trinity’s scrum certainly had the advantage on Saturday and Mids are fortunate to have the ability to rotate props as needs arise with Ali Hall, David Hoffmann and Lewis Chin-Yu performing effectively.

Early in the game the scrum won a penalty, and the ball was spun smartly left only for the final pass to go astray as flying winger Olly Wilcox was set to score. The same player cleared up well when he cleared a threatening kick ahead. Trinity were dominating now. David Williams was leaping well in the line and Quinn Singh was, as usual in the thick of things, winning a big turnover, then making a break and winning a penalty. This was taken quickly and when Ruts did not retire ten the next penalty was close to the tryline. Trinity opted for the scrum but, to the visitors’ credit, they drove back the home eight and won a relieving penalty. The hosts fashioned another attack and were relieved when a Ruts interception was called back for offside. Eventually Trinity went ahead with a penalty from George Kimmins.ater 13 minutes.

From the kick-off Mids were penalised and Ruts kicked to the corner but their strong position was lost after good work by Farooq Agbalaya and then his turnover set up a good exit. Ruts attacked again and Archie McMillan was nearly through with an interception but the ball went forward. Trinity continued to show plenty of aggression with tackles by Farooq and Ty Williams and Fuad won good line out ball. After 28 minutes Kimmins doubled the lead with another penalty. In the next attack Tom Wilcox carried well but the move broke down with another poor pass, A good take in the line by Dave Williams set up a maul chance for Trinity but Ruts did well to hold them up over the line. Trinity continued to press, and it seemed they had to score as Ruts were in disarray with the ball loose in their 22 but they survived and then Trinity butchered another good chance. Ruts then broke away and created a good position in the home 22 which they in turn butchered. At the end of the half another fine line out catch by Williams led to an assault on the line by Farooq but again he was held up. 6-0 at the interval seemed very little reward for al Trinity’s domination.

Ruts started the second half better and were soon on the attack. Harry Wilson cleared well to touch in Gibson-Park fashion. A tap -penalty was well defended and, as Ruts now came in waves the Trinity tackling had to be very solid and it was, with good hits from Tom Wilcox, Alex Willis and the ubiquitous Farooq. When the next attack yielded a penalty for Ruts it was a tribute to The Mids’ tackling that they opted for the 3 points. Having raised the siege Trinity now surged up field with a strong run from McMillan. Despite a stray pass the pressure was sustained and more good work by Farooq was rewarded when a gap opened up and McMillan sailed through for the try. Kimmins’ conversion made it 13-3. A good carry by Singh promised more but Ruts cleared well and Mids were penalised for not retiring. This gave the visitors a chance to find the corner, but they kicked dead. Ruts were not profiting from the chances they had. An injury to Fuad meant he had to retire and Mids did well to stem further attacks with a big tackle and turnover from Hall significant. Trinity now returned to the attack and a flurry of assaults promised more points. Time and again they battered the line but Rutts defended well even if it meant conceding penalties. Mids declined the opportunity to go 16-3 ahead and the visitors eventually jubilantly raised the siege with another scrum penalty when they were on the rack. They then hacked downfield and a favourable bounce gave them the chance of a breakaway try, but they knocked on with the line at their mercy.

Trinity still had work to do and they were not helped by an injury to Willis and then an unlucky yellow card for Adam Sheehy. Trinity defended well with a trademark tackle from McMillan, good spoiling of an attacking line out and a fine relieving kick by Rhys Gormley. Marc McEvilly tackled well and made two strong carries Rutts did eventually break through for a converted try and Mids, a man down and facing a long period of time added on for injury, were in danger of being robbed of a victory that should have been sealed much earlier. However, they rose to the task and kept play in the opposition’s half for the rest of the match, apart from the occasional high kick which Ben Telfer fielded well and ran back strongly. Eventually the reward came when, in a line out on the right, Singh threw short to Hall at the front, he made ground and then returned the pass to Singh who surged over gleefully in the corner. Kimmins completed proceedings with a magnificent conversion from the touchline.

MATCH REPORT BY GERRY MURPHY
MATCH PHOTOS BY PETE FILEWOOD ARE HERE ON HIS FLICKR PAGE
MATCH PHOTOS BY NEIL PEPPER CAN BE FOUND VIA TRINITY RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE