Malone lose to Dublin University by 10-20

Malone hosted Dublin University in their final game of the 2012 -2013 season. Both teams had met earlier in the season and despite leading well at half time lost the game by 28-24.

The game was played in sunny and bright conditions in front of a good crowd. The visitors came out and made an excellent start.

The first scrum saw Malone take one against the head which allowed the Trinity 8 to lift from the scrum and attack the Malone line, play was then moved wide towards the wing and a scoring opportunity appeared to present it self however a wild Trinity pass saw play break down and the ball went lose, a subsequent attack saw the ball knocked forward.

Malone were awarded a penalty when a Trinity player infringed and Malone out half Josh Pentland scored an excellent to give the home side a 3-0 lead.

Malone were once again in difficulty at their next scrum and the student pack wheeled the scrum and were unsuccessful with the resultant penalty attempt.

The visitors mounted several attacking phases of play but the Malone defence was solid. After a Malone infringement the visitors kicked into the clubhouse corner, the subsequent line out saw them set up a further attack which broke don due to poor handling.

The visitors drew level when they successfully kicked a penalty after Malone were caught off side. 3-3. The visitors continued to attack and lookesure to have scored when the ball was moved wide left and with 2 unmarked players free the Trinity 11 dropped the ball. The remainder of the opening half saw much more of the same plenty of Trinity attacks which produced numerous scoring opportunities, however due to poor handling, bad decision making and a sound Malone defence came to nothing.

Malone were reduced to 14 men when second row Corry Tipping was shown yellow for a dangerous tackle. Malone continued to be on the defensive for the remainder of the half, but again the visitors spurned a number of scoring opportunities. Trinity lost their number 14 to a yellow card.

The half ended at 3-3 a half in which the visitors had dominated but unable to turn pressure into points.

The second half saw Malone get more possession and a period of good play saw them advance towards the Trinity line however the ball went lose and Trinity gathered and cleared the danger.

Trinity looked to have crossed the Malone line after an attacking 5m scrum however the ball was turned over and kicked clear. Trinity got on the score sheet in the 57 minute when after Malone attempted to run the ball from their own 5m line the ball went lose and was kicked away the Trinity 13 chipped the ball forward and their number 14 gathered and touched down for a converted try. Score now 3-10.

Malone responded in the 60 minute when Josh Pentland made a superb break and set down under the posts to give himself an easy conversion, score now level 10-10.

Malone were working their way back into the game but lost flanker Connor Joyce to a yellow card for what appeared to be stamping. The Trinity out half scored from the subsequent penalty, score now 10-13.

Late into the game the visitors scored when from a ruck the ball was moved left to the out half who moved back inside between two Malone defenders, with a defender to beat he chipped the ball forward and left and a Trinity player gathered and set down under the posts for a converted try.

Malone mounted a sustained attack on the visitors line for the remaining two minutes of the game but were unable to add any further points. Final score was 10-20 in favour of the students. A deserved victory their dominance at the set pieces saw Malone starved of the ball for long periods.