Ealing Trailfinders vs London Scottish

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders ran in 11 tries to book their place in the Greene King IPA Championship play-offs for the first time.

Arthur Ellis, Miles Mantella and Will Harries all scored a brace of tries and Rory Clegg added seven conversions and a penalty, while his first try in green and white brought up the four-try bonus.

The match was thrilling entertainment and the 3G pitch and sun belting down ensured both teams were given free rein to express themselves with the ball in hand and neither side failed to obliged.

It didn’t take long for the scoring to start when Clegg knocked over a penalty in the first half. Joe Munro, Alun Walker and Miles Mantella then ran in tries before the quarter-hour mark.

Munro was on the end of a counter-attack led by Phil Chesters and supported by Arthur Ellis. Walker was driven over from a rolling maul, while Mantella swooped on Clegg’s pass to touch down against his old club.

Ewan McQuillin opened Scottish’s account in similar fashion to Walker, but Ealing Trailfinders hit back immediately when Clegg finished off another backline move in the corner.

As Ealing Trailfinders continued to impose themselves on proceedings Ellis took a quick tap penalty to barge over and Walker was again driven over from a line out.

Scottish found their rhythm after the break and wing Jason Harries found space to find race clear. His namesake Will Harries then scored his first before Matt Marler made it three for Scottish.

Peter Lydon came off the bench and showed Ealing Trailfinders what they can expect when he joins next season by scoring just before the hour mark.

From then on though Ealing Trailfinders re-imposed themselves on the match and added four more. Ellis, Mantella and Harries all scored their second and as the clocked ticked down Josh Davies came off the bench and promptly rounded off yet another attacking move.

London Scottish enjoyed the last word to end a tough week at the Athletic Ground in positive mood when Alex Coombes raced home on the final whistle.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Munro 3, Walker 9, 31, Mantella 14, 71, Clegg 26, Ellis 34, 67, Harries 48, 77, Davies 79), Conversions (Clegg 3, 9, 31, 67, 71, 77, 79), Penalties (Clegg 1)
London Scottish
Tries (McQuillin 18, Harries 45, Marler 51, Lydon 57, Coombes 80), Conversions (Sheppard 18, 51)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Miles Mantella, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, Phil Chesters, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Barney Maddison, Glen Townson, Kieran Murphy, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, James Gibbons, Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Rayn Smid, Josh Davies, Aaron Penberthy

London Scottish
Craig Holland, Ben Rath, Robbie Fergusson (captain), Tom Galbraith, Jason Harries, Harry Sheppard, Ed Hoadley; Grant Shiells, Dan Koroi, Ewan McQuillin, Dom McGeekie, Alex Woolford, Matt Marley, Joe Atkinson, Dave Sisi
Reserves
Michael Liness, Jonny Harris, Phil Cringle, Alec Coombes, Josh Barton, George Cullen, Peter Lydon

Referee – Jack Makepeace
Attendance – 896
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Luke Carter