The students from Dublin University pushed the Hinch all the way in what turned out to be a tough but exciting contest at Ballymacarn Park on Saturday. In the end the Hinch just did enough to pull clear, score a bonus point and prevent Trinity from securing a losing bonus in a dramatic final ten minutes.
Hinch opted to play into the elements in the first half as the students kicked-off playing towards the clubhouse. When possession was secured the home side set up their first attack, James Thompson putting Adam Craig and Ian Whitten into space. As Trinity struggled to get men back Stuart Morrow blasted past Peter Zarafi on the left wing to cross for a try with just 45 seconds played. Adam Craig added the conversion to take the Hinch 7-0 clear.
Trinity hit back in the 5th minute with a well-struck penalty goal from fullback John O’Donoghue to close the gap to 7-3.
In the 10th minute Trinity had a lineout on the Hinch 22. Scott La Valla took the catch and the Trinity pack impressively mauled by ball over the Hinch line from the 22, flanker Eamon Guiran getting the touch down. O’Donoghue added the extras to take the students into the lead 7-10
When Trinity infringed at a ruck on their 10-metre line in the 13th minute the Hinch dispatched the ball into the corner to set up a 5-metre lineout. The ball from touch was secured, but instead of driving for the line Hinch moved play wide where Ian Whitten took a straight line but was stopped just short in front of the posts. The quick ball was flashed left where Stuart Morrow used his power and strength to smash his way over for the second Hinch try. Craig failed to convert leaving the Hinch with a narrow 2-point lead 12-10.
In the next 15 minutes the students dominated play causing the County Down men lots of problems in the scrum and lineout they kept play deep in the Hinch 22 for long periods. In the 30th minute O’Donoghue added a second penalty goal to take his side back into the lead 12-13. Then in the 36th minute the influential Trinity number 8 Alan Mathews burst clear on the Hinch 22 and did well to fend off a couple attempts to halt his progress as he crossed the whitewash for the students second try. O’Donoghue added the extras to stun the Hinch faithful as the Leinster side had taken a well deserved 12-20 lead.
The Hinch did make a reply in the 40th minute when a catch and drive 5-metres out was held out by a determined Trinity defence, but the students infringed when the ball was moved wide, and Craig converted from in front of the posts to bring the first half to a close the Hinch trailing 15-20.
It was clear that Derek Suffern and Charlie McAleese and their side were facing the first real test of the season and with the elements beginning to deteriorate they did manage to gain some territorial advantage as the students found themselves trapped in their 22 when the second half got underway. In the 51st minute Trinity number 8 Alan Mathews was yellow carded for pulling a maul down 5 metres out. Hinch called for a scrum and set siege on the Trinity line once more, their extra man advantage eventually paid off when loose head prop Chris Stevenson smashed his was over for the third Hinch try in the 56th minute. Craig missed the conversion to leave the scores tied at 20 points apiece.
In the 60th minute Ian Whitten spotted a gap and sprinted clear into the Trinity 22 where he drew the cover to put Aaron Ferris clear to run in and set down behind the posts to score the bonus point try. Craig converted to take the Hinch 27-20 clear with 20 minutes left to play.
Trinity never gave up and when Hinch were caught with their hands in a ruck the students kept in touch with a third penalty goal from O’Donoghue in the 64th minute closing the gap once again to 27-23.
The home side immediately fought back and took play deep into the Trinity half, but disaster almost struck in the 69th minute when a promising Hinch attack, with a man over on the right wing, was intercepted by the replacement Trinity winger Niyi Adeolukan who had a clear run up the left wing to the Hinch line, only to be stopped by an inspirational tap tackle from the Hinch skipper Neil Hanna.
With 7 minutes remaining Adam Craig missed a vital penalty but the Hinch stuck to their game plan with Harry McAleese now kicking the corners to keep the students deep in their half of the field.
With 4 minutes remaining the influential Trinity skipper Scott La Valla was yellow carded, although it may have been a case of mistaken identity, the students defence had persistently infringed at the ruck, but McAleese missed the important penalty opportunity, and the score remained at 27-23.
In the final minutes the home team held their nerve and kept building the phases eventually releasing the ball wide where Whitten cut through to make good ground before putting Ferris clear for the second time. The Hinch winger did well to stay strong when tackled, then twist his way over in the left hand corner for the 5th Hinch try, which when unconverted, to leave Hinch with another bonus point win 32-23.
This was a killer blow for the students who definitely deserved something from this game. They made the Hinch fight all the way but returned to Dublin with no points.
After the game Hinch coach Derek Suffern paid tribute to the Trinity effort, “They are a very good side, I wasn’t surprised by their performance, I had watched them earlier in the season when they played Corinthians and was impressed. Their league position does not do them justice and we had to fight all the way. This was possibly our hardest game of the season so far, and is the best preparation we could have had, ahead of the big game in Dublin this Saturday against UCD. It will be a massive game for us.”
BALLYNAHINCH 15 Adam Craig, 14 Jonny Cullen, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Stuart Morrow, 11 Aaron Ferris, 10 James Thompson, 9 David Drake, 8 Michael Graham, 7 Josh Donaldson, 6 Gary Crowe, 5 Chris Napier, 4 James Simpson, 3 Jerry Cronin, 2 Neil Hanna, 1 Chris Stevenson.
Replacements: 16 Harry McAleese, 17 Adam Bratton, 18 Matthew Irvine, 19 Matthew Nelson, 20 Jonny Simpson.
TRINITY 15 John O’Donoghue, 14 Peter Zarafi, 13 Tim McCoy, 12 Ciaran Wade, 11 Neil Hanratty, 10 Dave Joyce, 9 Mick McLoughlin, 8 Alan Mathews, 7 Eamon Guiran, 6 Johnny Lliff, 5 Scot La Valla, 4 Pierce Byrne, 3 James Gethings, 2 Mark Murdock, 1 Ian Hirst
Replacements: 16 Paddy McCabe, 17 Craig Telford, 18 Colin McDonnel, 19 Sam Bell, 20 Niyi Adeolukan.
