Dave Fanagan, Michael McLoughlin, Paddy Carroll and Niyi Adelokun celebrate yesterday’s heroic victory against Malone RFC
Rory McCarthy
Deputy Sports Editor
DUFC – 28
Malone RFC – 24
DUFC continued their winning ways in Division 1B of the Ulster Bank League to stretch their unbeaten league form to seventeen matches. Malone were always going to be a massive examination of the students credentials with their awesome attacking back line that had scored 157 points in four games, and stubborn defence only yielding thirty seven points.
The East Belfast boys started in quick and ruthless fashion with winger Lorcan McGillan adding three points from an early indiscretion at the breakdown. Following it almost immediately off the restart Malone, through the uber committed Glenn Moore and Conor Joyce, slammed downfield and after a quick tap McGillan slid into the corner. His successful conversion made it 10-0 after eight minutes. Trinity were guilty of being slow, unsure and flat. The speed of their defensive line was non-existent allowing Malone’s ball carriers to generate effective momentum and go-forward ball and their multi-phase play had them running DUFC across the park, chasing shadows.
Neil Hanratty showed his prowess and strength in making numerous strong excursions into the Malone twenty-two but despite his endeavours he was not supported enough by his teammates. When Joyce didn’t release Hanratty after one of his bursting runs he allowed Cathal Marsh to open his account from outside the Malone twenty-two to make it 10-3. Michael McLoughlin was doing his best to generate some tempo to wake Trinity up and his quick taps and effervescent running and sniping was helping Trinity to advance. Hanratty continued with his runs deep into Malone territory and when Moore cynically sealed off, the referee had to punish Malone for their consistent foul play and he was duly sent to the bin. However it was Malone who made the most of this period. DUFC for their part could not wake themselves up.
Sometimes small incremental issues produce big reactions. Malone turned a period of pressure on their line into points when McGillan intercepted a wayward pass and ran seventy metres in to make it 17-3. Trinity finally sprang into life after this. Paddy Lavelle made one of his typically abrasive carries up the middle before offloading to David Fanagan. Fanagan produced a lovely arcing pass off his left hand to Niyi Adelokun who raced down the touchline from thirty metres out. His weaving run saw him skate clear of any defenders, finally getting Trinity off the mark and out of bed.
Moore was back on for Malone and his heaving run off the kickoff brought Malone back downfield where they scored a very controversial try that brought much derision from DUFC’s infamously vocal and boisterous ‘Firm’. Josh Pentland ran laterally and threw what looked a forward pass to McGillan. McGillan then appeared to fumble the ball forward with neither the referee or the linesman picking it up, before he gathered and slid over. His conversion from the touchline made it 24-10 at half time. Trinity went into the huddle somewhat shell-shocked in seeing how decisively and swiftly Malone had unraveled them.
At half time Paddy Carroll and Pierce Dargan came on for Warren Larkin and Alan McDonald and their impact was telling. Carroll in particular might not cut a typical picture of a front row forward with his blonde locks and washboard stomach but his strength and determination matched with his boundless energy makes him more than a match for any opponent hooker. Dargan likewise was electric, displaying hunger and ferocity in his play and his ability in the lineout played a crucial role in the second half for the students.
Malone started the second half much in the manner they ended the first but following spilt possession McLoughlin put a long clearance kick down the park. Max Waters turned over the resulting lineout and from there Marsh fed Lavelle who carried straight up the middle before stepping late and popping the ball to Dargan. Dargan then stepped off his left foot and cut infield barreling through Taylor Acheson’s tackle to make it 15-24. Trinity now began to play much more like their usual selves and with Malone ratcheting up a penalty count against them, Marsh made it 18-24 following Alan O’Connor’s failure to release.
Trinity realizing the game was back in their grasp were guilty of playing too frantically and without accuracy or shape. One moment that had Tony Smeeth pulling his hair out was a passage of play following a turnover in the Trinity twenty-two that saw Brian Du Toit break free only for his pass to go astray giving Malone a scrum. However, Trinity continued to defend with excellent integrity never shooting up and trusting the system that has rewarded them time after time. When Marsh got a chance to kick after Malone went offside he was accurate as ever. With fifteen minutes to go it was 21-24 in favour of Malone. Marsh is perhaps known from his school days as a breaking and running outhalf but his kicking game is just as complete and effective. He continually probed in behind the Malone back three forcing them to run back and collect kicks making their shape go awry.
One of these kicks saw Acheson under pressure and his poor clearance went to the middle of the park. From it Marsh fed Ariel Robles who swerved in and out before being tackled. Then McLoughlin made another brilliant snipe catching Malone’s ruck defence unawares and then unsure. Their hesitation was punished when he sent a gliding pass to Du Toit who ran in unopposed to make it 26-24. Marsh did brilliantly with the tricky touchline conversion giving DUFC a crucial four-point cushion.
Trinity began an endless period of defence, somewhat unable to maintain composure and shut the game out. Hanratty worked like a Spartan chasing kick after kick forcing errors from his opposite number. Even when Trinity got possession back they failed to close up shop and with only a minute left Joyce led a desperate raid out of the Malone red-zone and fed Moore. Moore the ex-Ulster 21’s back-row was one on one with Dave Fanagan. Moore upon viewing the slight fullback must have thought he was surely in but Fanagan is one of the bravest and most committed players on this Trinity side. He dove like an Exocet missile at Moore’s ankles and bundled the big number 8 into touch. Trinity won the lineout and Jack Kelly was busy making a nuisance as usual. Joyce’s frustration blew over and he struck the second row giving Trinity a penalty.
The ball was kicked dead and Trinity had completed an unlikely but fantastically entertaining comeback. DUFC now sit joint top of the league alongside Ballynahinch.
