Bristol Bears vs Ealing Trailfinders

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Trailfinders made it two from two in the Premiership Rugby Cup with a 28-12 victory over Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.

Tries from Rayn Smid, Nathan Earle and Matt Cornish capped a second win in as many weeks over top-flight opposition.

This leaves Trailfinders second in pool three, one point behind Doncaster Knights, who they play next week at TFSC.

The game started fast, with both sides keen to impose their will on the match. Bristol scored first through Kieron Marmion sniping off the back of a maul, then Trailfinders replied in two minutes. Smid carried the ball down an empty blindside and crashed over the fullback, reducing the Bears lead to two.

After this early flurry of points, the game became cagey as the wet and windy conditions left the ball like a bar of soap, and 20 scoreless minutes followed.

The Bears scored next, as James Williams crossed in the corner following the first real phase play from either side.

From ecstasy to agony for Bristol, however, as Trailfinders won the ball from kick-off and Second-Row Joe Bately was yellow carded for a professional foul, and Earle would go on to score four minutes later.

A conversion from Steven Shingler would take Trailfinders into the break with the scores level at 12-12.

Whatever was said at half-time by Director of Rugby Ben Ward worked as Trailfinders would go on to dominate from here on.

They controlled the ball for the opening of the second term and would re-open the scoring through Cornish after 50 minutes of play.

A Shingler penalty six minutes later would make the score 22-12 and open a two-score lead, allowing Trailfinders to close the game out.

A tense final quarter was characterised by stop-start play and plenty of kicking. Two final Shingler penalty goals would take his points tally to 11 and Trailfinders to a final score of 28-12, marking a statement win in English rugby’s newest competition.

After a tough battle this weekend, next week will be no easier, as Championship title contenders Doncaster Knights travel to TFSC.