PAPA JOHNS / PAPA JOHN’S CUP – SECOND ROUND
Played at Suttin & Epsom RFC

Trinity came up just short in this entertaining Cup tie held at Sutton and Epsom’s ground under lights. 

Vandals were immediately on the attack but Trinity’s line-speed and tigerish tackling, a feature of this team which contained several young players, soon turned things over and they were on the offensive. Trinity now dominated play with slick passing and running. Vandals conceded a penalty and George Kimmins found touch.  Ozzy Edwards was throwing well to the line out and Tom Black soared to take well.  Scrum half Max Anderson was in fine form and, after two strong carries by MarcMcEvilly, Vandals were penalised for pulling down a maul and Kimmins slotted the kick for the lead after 3 minutes.  Vandals continued to concede penalties and more good possession led to a powerful drive by the Trinity pack and then some fine interplay.  Luke Joubert showed good feet to set up play under the posts and Tom Wilcox got the touchdown for the first try.  Kimmins converted and with only 10 minutes gone Trinity were rampant.  Another Kimmins penalty, after good work from Farooq Agbalaya and McEvilly, made it 13-0 shortly after and it seemed that Trinity would run away with it.

Vandals conceded a 5^th penalty and Edwards was prominent in taking the game to them. Eventually a knock-on gave Vandals their first scrum after 15 minutes which Trinity managed well. In the second scrum, however, Trinity were pushed off their own ball and Vandals took full advantage to spread left and score in style.  A fine kick from the touchline made it 13-7 after 20 minutes. They were now upping their game, but Trinity stayed well in contention by bringing on fresh legs at frequent intervals. Alex Willis had come on for the injured Black and immediately took well in the lineout as well as putting himself about with several strong tackles.  On 25 minutes the whole complexion of the game changed when a long overthrow at the line out was claimed by a Vandals flanker who was able to run in unopposed under the posts. Trinity now had to defend again and did so well, with Quinn Singh effecting a turnover. When Vandals won a penalty in the 22, they opted for a scrum.  Trinity held this well but had to defend the resulting play and managed to hold up the ball over the line and escape. Some lively play in midfield saw Singh win a penalty and the sides were evenly matched until a fracas developed with a mixture of aggressors and peacemakers involved before it fizzled out. Having lost their early lead, Trinity were now hoping to regain it before the interval, but it was Vandals who achieved this right at the end of the half when they used a good platform to move the ball, and their talented backs created space to go left and score in the corner. Half-Time 19-14 to Weybridge.

Despite a poor kick-off Trinity regrouped and Kimmins won ground with a penalty to the 22. Trinity lost their own line out but then Vandals knocked on and Anderson was quick to pounce and break before passing to Farooq who showed awesome power and determination to crash over for an inspiring score. Kimmins conversion attempt was narrowly wide.  Having got right back in the game Trinity then knocked on at the kick-off and from a scrum Vandals sped down the blind side to restore their 6-point lead at 24-18 after 51 minutes. Trinity now put in some fine efforts and a huge carry by Fin Edwards set up a chance in the 22.  But Vandals defended well and returned to the attack. When they were penalised, Trinity had space to counter quickly as their backs were well set to run in from a quick tap.  They were dismayed to be called back for a forward pass and then protested too loudly and were penalised with 10 yards back and a penalty instead of a scrum.  The kick attempt would have put Vandals 9 points clear, but it struck a post, and a huge clearing kick brought Mids to halfway. Singh made a big carry but when Trinity were then penalised again Vandals were able to kick to the 22.  They set up a driving maul, but Trinity managed to hold this up and won a scrum. They played out well from this position but when the ball was passed back for the clearing kick, this was charged down and Vandals had the good fortune that it fell under the posts for one of their players to touch down and they had been gifted another 7 points.

That looked like curtains for Mids but they refused to lie down and soon created another attack. Vandals were trying to play out from their line but strong pressure and a huge tackle from Archie McMillan forced them to concede a 5-metre scrum. This yielded nothing but with 5 minutes remaining and with Vandals deep in the 22 Trinity won a scrum.  From this Farooq broke from the base, made ground, unloaded to Max Mouna who sped away and, when he was tackled, Joubert carried on in the next phase. He ran into the clear, chipped over the top, claimed the bounce and, though he was tap-tackled, kept focus, released the ball and then picked up to cross for a spectacular individual try.  Kimmins converted and now Trinity were seeking the winning score with 3 minutes on the clock. They created two further openings but a long kick to chase proved the wrong option when they might have backed themselves to run the ball. Vandals ride out the storm and advanced to the next round.

Coach Matt Higgins was impressed by his young side.  There were 15 Under-23s in the squad and a third of these were teenagers.  Dom Plumb was as involved and active as any – he is not a teenager!

Match Report – Gerry Murphy