We propose and recursively prove polynomial identities which imply Capparelli's partition theorems. We also find perfect companions to the results of Andrews, and Alladi, Andrews and Gordon involving $q$-trinomial coefficients. We follow Kurşungöz's ideas to provide direct combinatorial interpretations of some of our expressions. We use of the trinomial analogue of Bailey's lemma to derive new identities. These identities relate triple sums and products. A couple of new Slater type identities are also noted.