Champ Rugby action returns to Trailfinders Sports Club with Ealing Trailfinders playing Doncaster Knights
You can read everything you need to know ahead of the match here.
Everything you need to know ahead of Trailfinders Women vs Bristol Bears
The PWR returns to Trailfinders Sports Club with Round 4. Trailfinders Women face Bristol Bears for the first time this season, after a tight battle in January last season.
Read everything you need to know ahead of the match here.
The full match preview for this weekend’s clash between Ealing Trailfinders and Cornish Pirates at TFSC.
Ealing Trailfinders vs Cornish Pirates
Trailfinders return home looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the Championship season, a 19-17 defeat to London Scottish at Richmond Athletic Ground.
About the Opposition
Pirates have had an improved start to the season compared to the last, having the league’s second-best defensive record. Their 2023-24 season has started promisingly, having won five of their nine games.
They will be fired after a recent home loss to Doncaster, which stunted their winning streak.
Compared to this point last year, the Pirates are 75 points better in terms of points difference and currently only concede the second least points per game. They will undoubtedly be tough competition come Saturday.
What to Expect
The Pirate’s identity is shown by their try scorers.
As of now, no player has more than half the tries as Hooker Morgan Nelson.
The Welshman has amassed ten tries so far this season in all competitions, with the nearest behind him being Winger Will Trewin on five.
Trailfinders will likely show up more unpredictably than the opposition. The point scoring has been shared across the opening six games as 18 players have crossed the try line, with the highest being Richard Hardwick with four.
Looking at both of last seasons league results, the home side will be buoyant heading into the fixture. When same game last season took place, Trailfinders came away 50-12 winners whilst also coming away with a 25-12 victory away from home earlier in the season.
Looking at last year’s home result, Trailfinders will be hoping for more of the same to get back to winning ways on Saturday.
Match Details
Ealing Trailfinders vs Cornish Pirates
Date: Saturday 16th December
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: TFSC
Coverage: Live tweets from 3pm
The full match preview for this weekend’s clash between Bristol Bears Women and Trailfinders Women at Shaftesbury Park.
Bristol Bears Women vs Trailfinders Women
The atmosphere around TFSC is one of pure elation after Trailfinders Women’s first win as an elite outfit over Leicester Tigers Women. Can they get their first ever away win vs Bristol Bears Women?
About the opposition
Bristol Bears Women have had a relatively strong start to their PWR campaign, winning two and losing two to put them 3rd place in the league.
Their most recent victory came last weekend with a dominant 46-17 victory over Loughborough Lightning, where they ran in eight tries in a strong attacking display.
What to expect
The home side will be looking to once again play with the attacking, expansive rugby they showed last week. Whilst dangerous, this will leave them susceptible on the counter.
Bears winger Megan Varley will be one to watch. Varley was named PWR player of the week in the last round of matches, having scored two tries and completing 191 metres in carries in the victory over Loughborough.
In the first ever meeting between the two sides, it will most likely be a close affair, with both sides full of confidence after victories on the weekend.
Match Details
Bristol Bears Women vs Trailfinders Women
Date: Saturday 16th December
Kick-off: 1pm
Venue: Shaftesbury Park
Coverage: Live tweets available from 1 pm
The full match preview for this weekend’s clash between London Scottish and Ealing Trailfinders at Richmond Athletic Ground.
London Scottish vs Ealing Trailfinders
The Championship season couldn’t have started any better for Ealing with five bonus-point victories, including last weekend’s impressive 31-13 defeat of Coventry at TFSC.
About the Opposition
Scottish have had a tough start to the season, losing all their matches in the Premiership Rugby Cup and Championship.
However, there were signs of improvement in last weekend’s away tie at second-place Doncaster, narrowly losing 29-24 in the dying minutes.
What To Expect
Scrum-half Lewis Gjaltema and tighthead prop Ashley Challenger have found themselves in the Championship Rugby Team of the Week after their impressive performances against Doncaster last weekend.
Ex-Newcastle Falcon and Exiles captain Bailey Ransom,is one to watch in the back row, where he will may joined by Will Trenholm, who is currently on loan from Harlequins.
Trailfinders ran out 66-0 and 57-21 victors in last year’s fixtures and will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday in this West London derby.
Match Details
London Scottish vs Ealing Trailfinders
Date: Saturday 2nd December
Kick-off: 3 pm
Venue: Richmond Athletic Ground
Coverage: Live tweets available from 3 pm
The full match preview for this weekend’s clash between Ealing Trailfinders and Coventry Rugby at TFSC.
Ealing Trailfinders vs Coventry Rugby
The first half of Saturday’s double-header sees unbeaten Ealing Trailfinders take on Championship rivals Coventry at TFSC.
About the Opposition
Coventry have started the season relatively strongly, with convincing bonus-point victories over Caldy (45-5) and Doncaster (51-7) sandwiched by a surprising 34-24 loss to Ampthill.
While Trailfinders dominated last year’s away match (5-50), they suffered their first home defeat to the West Midlands side in the most recent meeting. Trailfinders will be hoping to extend their four-match win streak to start the season.
What To Expect
With Tongan Pat Pellegrini pulling the strings at fly-half, Coventry have played with an impressive tempo, aided by a continuous supply of quick ball thanks to their pack. Ryan Hutler has impressed on the wing, adding four tries to the five that he scored during the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Trailfinders will be hoping to extend their four-match win streak to start the season, in what is set to be a momentous day at TFSC.
Match Details
Ealing Trailfinders vs Coventry Rugby
Date: Saturday 25 November
Kick-off: 2:30pm
Venue: TFSC
Coverage: Live tweets available from 2:30pm
The full match preview for Trailfinders Women v Saracens on Saturday.
Trailfinders Women vs Saracens Women
Trailfinders Women are in high spirits as they head into the second game of their inaugural Allianz PWR campaign. They played impressively in a narrow opening-day loss to Harlequins Women.
Can they secure their first win of the season against Saracens Women this weekend?
About the opposition
Saracens Women are one of the most formidable sides Trailfinders will face in the league this campaign. Champions of the Allianz Premier 15s for three seasons out of five before it was revamped to the Allianz PWR, Sarries made a big statement of intent with their opening-day 48-7 win against Loughborough Lightning.
The sides met earlier in the season in the Allianz Cup whilst the WXV was underway, with Saracens winning 45-10 in a dominant display. With the WXV now over, however, both sides have been significantly bolstered by the return of their international players.
What to expect?
Saracens have an abundance of talent, including Red Roses stars Marlie Packer and Poppy Cleall, Canadian international Sophie De Goede, and more. Saracens like to kick the ball when on the front foot, knowing they can rely on their strong defence when necessary.
This will be a tough matchup for Trailfinders. If they can maintain their discipline, the home side will be a match for any team in this league, as they proved last week against Harlequins. They will need to ensure they keep Saracens under pressure and force errors, as discipline was also an area of weakness for them last week.
Match Details
Trailfinders Women vs Saracens Women
Date: Saturday 25th November 2023
Kickoff: 4.45pm
Live Coverage: live tweets from 4:45pm
The full match guide for The Takeoff!
Trailfinders Women vs Harlequins Women
It’s time for takeoff! Saturday marks the Trailfinders Women’s first-ever league match, as Harlequins Women visit TFSC in the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby.
About the Opposition
With the Allianz Cup ending, Trailfinders are ready to welcome a Harlequins side which finished fifth in last year’s Premiership, winning 10 of their 18 matches.
Four Red Roses return to Harlequins duty from New Zealand as winners of WXV1, with seven other internationals representing their sides across two tiers of the inaugural WXV tournament.
Harlequins Women won two and lost two in the initial round of the Allianz Cup. They finished one place above Trailfinders in Pool B after their 31-21 victory at Twickenham Stoop in Trailfinders’ first-ever match back in September.
What To Expect
Ellie Kildunne will be one to watch on the wing after being selected in World Rugby’s Dream Team of the Year alongside our very own Abby Dow. Quins are an attacking side that will look to play at a high intensity throughout the 80 minutes.
After trying different combinations in the Allianz Cup, Trailfinders will welcome a host of international players back. They will be excited to put on a show to the home crowd in their first-ever league match.
Match Details
Trailfinders Women vs Harlequins Women
Date: Saturday 18 November
Kick-off: 3:00 pm
Venue: TFSC
Coverage: Live tweets available from 3pm
The full match preview for Friday’s Championship fixture away to Nottingham RFC at The Bay.
Top of the table Trailfinders enter their fourth game of the Championship campaign in red hot form, undefeated and fresh off a dominant 64-7 victory at home to Cambridge.
Playing under the lights this Friday evening, can Trailfinders maintain their perfect start away to Nottingham?
About the opposition
Nottingham sit fourth in the table, winning two and losing one so far in the Championship this season. That one loss came most recently away to Doncaster Knights, and they will be looking to bounce back after a two-week break.
The Archers had a lacklustre 22-23 campaign, finishing ninth and winning only seven games throughout. Trailfinders were able to do the double over them, and ran out 41-21 winners the last time the two sides met at The Bay.
What to expect
In the battle of Green and Whites, Nottingham will be keen to improve on their lack of discipline, having conceded 15 penalties in the game against Doncaster. This proved costly in an 11-point defeat, with key points coming from the boot.
Trailfinders will be brimming with confidence after the convincing victory over Cambridge. They should be feeling fully rested after a full squad rotation and a two-week break, and will be looking to establish their dominance early on.
Match Details
Nottingham RFC vs Ealing Trailfinders
Date: Friday 17th November 2023
Kickoff: 7.45pm
Venue: The Bay
Coverage: Live tweets from 7.45pm
Get ready for Saturday’s Championship Cup Final clash with Jersey Reds by reading our free match programme.
Click here to read this week’s programme.
Being a Cup Final, this week’s programme has taken a more neutral feel.
Inside the Cup Final programme there is:
Hear from Ben Ward
Hear from Harvey Biljon
Recap the Trailfinders’ route to the final
Find out how the Reds got to the final
The links for every programme will be posted across our social media channels and website each week, as well as scannable QR codes around Trailfinders Sports Club.
Click here to purchase tickets for Saturday’s Cup final (KO 2pm).