Match report: Cambridge v Ealing Trailfinders
Ealing Trailfinders secure a bonus-point win in a tight contest against Cambridge.
A scoreless opening ten minutes set the scene for the clash between Cambridge and Ealing Trailfinders.
The home side displayed strong defence and kept Trailfinders’ attack at bay.
Nearing the end of the first quarter, Trailfinders had a scrum on Cambridge’s 22. A few minutes later with the ball still in the hands of the men in green, winger Toby Cousins sliced through the defence for the first score of the match.
Ten minutes later, Cambridge responded with their own try after right winger Kesena Izu ran down the wing. The conversion was successful by Ruaridh Dawson.
Ealing Trailfinders were not to be silenced and responded with their second try scored by Harry Thompson in the corner of the field.
Cambridge looked to inflict revenge before half-time but Trailfinders’ defence remained strong.
Half-time: Cambridge 7-12 Ealing Trailfinders
The second half saw a scoreless third quarter. Much of the play unfolded in the centre of the field with errors coming from both teams.
Into the final quarter, Ealing Trailfinders were defending from short range as Cambridge attacked in the visitors’ 22.
Five minutes later and still no points, Cambridge still looked for the try line. But a successful turnover from the men in green meant that Trailfinders kept Cambridge scoreless in the second half.
An intercept from Patrick Campbell ignited the energy back into the squad and the Irishman soared over for third try.
More tries followed for the men in green. Holgate scored to the right of the posts for the bonus-point try after the forwards grinded it out through the phases. Rory Scannell converted Holgate’s try.
Campbell took the fruits of his labour once more for the fifth and final try of the match. Scannell added the extras before the referee blew the full-time whistle.
Full-time: Cambridge 7-31 Ealing Trailfinders
Cambridge:
Tries – Kesena Izu 29
Conversions – Ruaridh Dawson 30
Ealing Trailfinders:
Tries – Toby Cousins 20, Harry Thompson 32, Patrick Campbell 70 79, Jordan Holgate 76
Conversions – George Worboys 21, Rory Scannell 77 80
