Trinity  32  Hove  24
Match report from Gerry Murphy

Trinity, with three debutants in their squad, Alex Brown and Malachi Goldson starting on the wing and Jamie Stagg on the bench, were determined to be more focused in this match, following a disappointing visit to Old Ruts.

David Williams managed to turn over a Hove line out early on and some lovely handling sent Archie McMillan through a gap. Goldson showed his paces with a mazy run but was held just short of the line. From this strong position the ball was moved right for Quinn Singh to claim the first score on 3 minutes. Olly Hubbard now won a turnover and Singh went on one of his characteristic powerful runs.  Hove did well to prevent him scoring again.  They cleared with a long kick which was very well fielded by Brown, and this gave ben Telfer the chance put in a fine attempt at a 50-22 which was just short of the mark.  Trinity now conceded several penalties in succession, which gave the visitors a chance to come back into the game. They took scrums for two of these and pressured Trinity in the red zone. Trinity were warned and the next infringement meant a yellow card for Olisa Ufodiama. Hove took a quick tap penalty and their powerful No.5 crossed for a try, converted by the fly half. 5-7 after 19 minutes. From the kick off Singh won a penalty and Farooq Agbalaya forced his way over for Trinity’s second try, following another good break by McMillan. George Kimmins converted.

Hove now won another penalty and set up an attack but a good tackle by Adam Sheehy led to a relieving penalty for Mids.  An overthrow at the line out enabled Hove to come again and then a clever kick over the top by the fly half put his winger over on the right.  The try was converted and Hove led by 2 points. When the yellow card expired Jamie Stagg came on for Olisa.  Alex Brown made a strong run down the right and Trinity were just short of the line but penalised for holding on. Ben Telfer fielded the clearing kick and seemed to be taken out in the air but play continued and Hove exploited the situation by chipping ahead and claiming their third try. A fine conversion from wide out made it 12-21. Trinity then won a penalty and Kimmins had an attempt at goal as half time was approaching.  He missed narrowly but, when Olisa, now back on the field, won a turnover in the next play, the fly half was able to make a better strike, and it was 15-21 at the interval.

Trinity attacked from the restart with Singh prominent in a move that was well defended by Hove.  Then a good take in the line out by Stagg led to another run by Singh and he scored.  Kimmins converted and Mids led 22-21 after 45 minutes. However, they did not restart well, and Hove regained the lead straight away with a penalty.  Hove then were careless, conceded a penalty and then failed to retreat and Kimmins exploited the easier position to kick Trinity back in front. Back came Hove and they had a line out in the corner. This they butchered, however, and Kimmins cleared the danger. Hove were really threatening now but a huge tackle by Farooq and then a knock-on in the line out spoiled their progress.  They then attacked down the left and Olisa put in a fierce saving tackle to bundle the winger into touch. He was adjudged not to have attempted to wrap, however, and having already been carded this meant that he was off and Trinity would have to play the last quarter with 14 men. This they did admirably under huge pressure from the visitors. They held up a maul on their line winning a turnover and, from the scrum, Farooq made a huge carry and then a jackal by Williams completed the exit.

Trinity now managed to go forward and threatened the Hove line, but the visitors won a scrum penalty and cleared.  Trinity then contested the line out well and won back possession.  A neat dink over the top from scrum half Max Anderson, who had put in a fine performance all afternoon, was claimed by man-of-the-match Singh and he completed his hat trick. Kimmins’ conversion meant an 8 point gap and Trinity played out the remainder of the game intelligently and with purpose. Trinity used a strong bench well and it was noticeable that the scrum got steadily stronger as the match progressed. Having quality props in Ali Hall, Lewis Chin-You and David Hoffmann all contributing well and the versatile Khrys Speed and Seb Robertson adding punch when needed, they were well prepared for the extra effort needed towards the end, when a strong Hove outfit seemed to tire.

MATCH PHOTOS VIA PETE FILEWOOD FLICKR PAGE