There is something pleasant about playing University (in any of their hues...) at their ground. Maybe it’s the surrounding skyline – as picturesque in its urban way as Marles Fields are in a green meadowy way. Maybe it’s the amiability of a drink at Percy Jones’ pub (formerly the Astor) or a coffee at the Universitá before a stroll to the ground puts the whole “Amateur Football” experience in the context of other human activities. Whatever the reason, there seemed to be a bonhomie amongst the T’s supporters, and a lack of the furrowed brows that usually adorn the side lines.

Maybe it was that quietly growing awareness that these young men in the Green-&-Gold are slowly maturing, as footballers and as a team.

But whatever the sentiments from the boundary, this was never going to be an easy game: University Blacks was the team that dropped to B-Section with Trinity at the end of 2008, and their win/loss record was almost identical to Trinity’s (with only a Rd 7 loss to Carey the major difference). Here was a team with definite finals plans which had most recently beaten OT at home in their last 2008 encounter.

In any case with Brendan Iezzi and Andy Cultrera late withdrawals due to illness, OTs knew they’d have their depth tested. It’s especially at time like these that one is grateful for the intense competition for places in the senior team: with the 2s travelling so well, there was a quiet confidence that any player selected would indeed step up.

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The Most Even Effort for the Season for Best Win

The game started evenly, with both sides hard at it. It was important for Old Trinity, given its tendency to start slowly, to match the opposition in the early stages. Particularly pleasing was the physical pressure which the OT players were prepared to apply.

Leigh Clarke back in One’s after injury started very well, leading from the front, putting pressure on his opponent, tackling and also mopping up all over the backline. Jack Osborne laid several telling tackles in the first quarter, and Mason Cole was having a good duel with the opposition ruckman

Matt Jessop and Luke Pacconi were both on top in their tagging roles. For such young players (still under 20) both players show great maturity and hardness in constantly demanding roles.

While Andrew ‘Rambo’ Ramsden was being well held by the Black’s full back, he still managed to create space for others to take advantage of: Jack Healy, on the end of some quick kicks into the forward line, marked low and kicked truly to score a couple.

The 2^nd quarter continued as the first - with both sides matching each other, and Old Trinity contributing evenly across the ground. Eleven goals in a half from both sides may not sound like an exciting contest, but it was far from dull: desperation and an intensity in the attack on the ball from both sides was providing an enthralling, and tight contest. But it was the Uni team that got a few late goals in the quarter and went into the half-time break with their tails up, and their voices loud.

This is a team that is confident in its ability to run a game out, and leading by 9 points at the major break was a good position for them to be in. Even so, they realized that it was important to start the 3rd quarter well, and that they would need contributions from all across the ground.

The back half was crucial in this, and they responded with calm and panache, led by Brent Walsh, Clarke, the Howell brothers, Kristian Butler and Andrew Bourke. In particular, it was ‘Dipper’ Bourke who, after a spell in the Ressies, showed signs of the talent he is blessed with and the form he showed in 2007 (before his injury), to mark and spoil strongly.

While the back half looked settled, the forward line was busy working hard applying good pressure, led by Dayne Coulsen-Hoffacker, Tom Eckersley and the Healy brothers.

The centre square was the scene of an intense, seesawing battle with the Blacks taking the ascendancy for short periods before being yanked back by the Ts, led by Cole, Jessop and Pacconi. On the wings, Osborne and Andrew Hore-Lacy indulged in their preferred pastime – long runs into space and penetrating kicks to the forwards. Hore-Lacy, in particular, capped off a fine day with 3 handy goals.

Deep in the last quarter, with the T’s seemingly in control; Uni Blacks rallied (not unlike their last encounter at this ground), and got to within 2 goals. Is it an indication of a team maturing that the lapses in concentration are shorter these days? Whatever the reason, the Ts steadied and sealed the game with a couple of fine goals: Coulsen-Hoffacker’s opportunistic crumb and snap from just outside the goal square for his 2^nd and Jack Healy’s 5^th running in from the right forward pocket right in front of the Trinity faithful.

All in all, a satisfying afternoon to match a pleasant morning.

UNI BLACKS     1.1      5.4      8.5      12.6   78
OLD TRINITY     3.3     6.7     12.8     14.11  95

Goal Scorers and Best Players not Available