St Johns 16
Trinity 3

St John’s College Rugby Club, have, in the last three years, set the bar extremely high in College Rugby. It is at least six years since they last failed to secure the League title and in the last three years they have secured an unprecedented triple-double; winning both the League and Cuppers titles for three consecutive years.

This year, the Red Boys enjoyed a relatively trouble-free route to the final. Despite a Blues-ridden Hughes Hall side, promising a mouthwatering quarter-final clash, the Red Boys reigned supreme securing a 48-3 victory. A first division rematch against Homerton in the Semi-finals was similarly perfunctory with John’s winning 48-19.

Trinity, in contrast were this year’s Cupper’s surprise package. Trinity, who play their League rugby in the College third division surprised almost everyone by beating Jesus 13-5 in a tight quarter final. They then beat St Catz in the semi final to secure a very unexpected line up for the final.

If John’s had expected to be able to produce a repeat of last year’s whitewash against an untested third division side they were certainly mistaken. Trinity game to the pitch with nothing to lose and everything to gain and for the first half looked seriously like causing a major upset.

Perhaps underestimating their opposition the Red Boys let Trinity make the most of early pressure. The nerves started to show as Trinity won two penalties within kicking range early on. The first attempt missed, but Pete Archer converted the second to take Trinity into an early 3-0 lead. The score stayed that way for the majority of the first half. Gradually the John’s pack started assert its dominance, particularly in the set play, winning two against the head helping to put Trinity back on the defensive. The Red Boy’s enjoyed a good period of sustained pressure and territory towards the end of the half and were rewarded with a penalty to draw even going into half time.

John’s Captain Oli Buxton presumably told his team in the dressing room to clam things down and focus on the basics because when the two teams came out after half time John’s superior quality started to show. A more clinical display from the backs and good service allowed centre Scott MacClennan to break through the brave Trinity defence and score, without conversion. A further well worked try from Efeotor, and another penalty put the score at 16-3. Good substitutions in the final quarter allowed fresh legs to keep the pressure on.

Trinity deserve much credit for a gutsy and well executed performance, it showed emphatically that John’s are fallible, but there is no denying this was the Red Boys day. It does not look like John’s dominance at the pinnacle of College Rugby is likely to end any time soon.