After scoring two tries in the win against Hartpury that made history for Ealing Trailfinders, Michael Dykes reflects on breaking the Champ Rugby record.
The 19-46 win over Hartpury on Saturday 14 February at 4ED Stadium led Ealing Trailfinders to break the Champ Rugby record for the most consecutive wins in the league. Twenty-two consecutive wins in the league ensures that Trailfinders remain unbeaten this season after securing the Championship trophy in 2024/25.
In the eight try win over Hartpury, winger Michael Dykes scored two tries and was pivotal in the attacking waves that meant Hartpury lost on home soil for the first time this season.
Dykes offered his reflections on how it felt to break the Champ Rugby record as a member of the starting XV.
‘Yeah, it was pretty amazing actually,’ he said. ‘Especially because Hartpury had a strong record this season at home. It was a big thing to see if we could it: break the record and beat Hartpury on home turf.
‘But then we went out there and we smashed it.’
Michael Dykes, Hartpury vs Ealing Trailfinders, Round Seventeen
Hartpury had proved a tight contest in Round Five at Trailfinders Sports and the Trailfinders squad knew how much of an attacking threat the Gloucestershire side posed. Dykes spoke about how the different conditions playing Hartpury at home versus at the 4ED Stadium did not phase the squad.
‘The conditions were a lot different. We were all on the same page. We had a really good Thursday training session, so we were all aligned.
‘We’re just loving our rugby. It was really enjoyable to be out there at Hartpury, spreading the ball wide.
‘We’re believing in ourselves a bit more now and getting the outcomes from training. It’s nice that we can put it on the pitch.’
The synergy within the Trailfinders squad is showing in their consistent performances and unbeaten run so far in the competition this season.
In the record breaking win, Trailfinders were able to play with speed, width, and plenty of attacking flare – the perfect conditions for a back three player to shine. Dykes scored two tries, had one try assist, and a key line break. He reflected on his performance as one of his best this season.
‘I definitely think it’s my best performance this season. Because everything went well from Thursday training, it sort of helps you clear your mind for just doing what you do best on the pitch.
‘There’s no other way to describe the feeling of scoring a try other than excitement but it’s sometimes a feeling of relief too. It’s nice as a winger to score because that’s our job really to be on the end of tries. It’s great when the boys can also set the back three up for scoring too.’
Trailfinders have displayed consistent performances this season, a lot of which comes down to the combinations of mentality, physicality and squad rotation. Dykes emphasised how the squad needs to remain focussed as the rest of the season unfolds, especially considering the revised knock-out format that was introduced into the Champ this season.
‘We have to stay focussed and take it game by game. In the past, we’ve won the league with a couple of games to go. Whereas this season, anything can happen in the knockouts.
‘The mentality is to continue taking each game as it comes and if we play our game, we’ll be at our best.’
Outside of his playing career, Dykes is equally competitive in his personal life. Gaming is a popular pastime for many of the players in the squad and Dykes is part of a Call of Duty group.
‘I’m a PS5 guy and there’s a group of us at the club that are into Call of Duty. It takes my mind off rugby.
‘Otherwise, I try spend time with friends or my partner outside of rugby.’
This weekend, Ealing Trailfinders will return to home soil to face Ampthill in Round Eighteen of the competition in a bid to continue extending the record they broke last weekend.
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