Ealing Trailfinders begin their Elior Champ Rugby campaign with a win at Kingsey Road. 

Chinnor kicked-off the match with Trailfinders gathering. An aerial battle ensued until Bobby De Wee charged down Chinnor’s box kick.

It was a physical contest at the breakdown, setting the precedent for the rest of the game.

An early infringement from Trailfinders gave Chinnor the advantage. The home side kicked to the corner and the men in black and white went for the lineout. A short throw with a pass back out to the shortside gave Chinnor front foot ball. Yet, pressure from the men in green caused a knock-on resulting in a Trailfinders scrum.

After winning the scrum, Louie Johnson sent the ball into touch.

Trailfinders’ lineout needed to find its feet. The ball wasn’t cleanly gathered and the mid-field contest continued between the two sides.

A stop-start opening ten minutes reflected the physicality from both teams.

At thirteen minutes, Trailfinders lineout gave them the platform for their first try. Cleanly gathered ball was flung wide to Fionn Gibbons and saw the Irish winger go over for his first Elior Champ Rugby try. Johnson added the extras.

With a foothold on the game, Trailfinders looked to retain their attacking edge. A reset scrum in the red zone put pressure on Chinnor’s defence. Loose ball gave De Wee an opportunity to gather and stretch for the tryline for a second score.

Tensions ran high between the two sides as both vied to get more points on the board.

Another Trailfinders lineout near the halfway line gave them the platform for a third score. The ball shifted right as Louie Johnson and Sam Grahamslaw linked up in attack, taking Chinnor on in the one-on-one defensive battle. A final pass to Grahamslaw who powered through tackles got on the scoreboard for his first Elior Champ Rugby try as a Trailfinder.

A 50:22 added to the Trailfinders attack. Yet another lineout into a driving maul saw Jarrod Taylor secure a fourth try and his first in Elior Champ Rugby.

Chinnor responded moments later with a try from lock Jamie Campbell.

Trailfinders were not going away quietly in the first half. Toby Cousins sliced down the wing for a fifth try before the half-time break.

Half-time: Chinnor 5-29 Ealing Trailfinders 

The home side had plenty to fight for and a score deficit to chase down. They opened the second forty minutes strong with a try by Will Cave and a successful conversion by Liam Richman.

Momentum was with the men in black and white as Morgan Passman got over the tryline for Chinnor’s third score. The conversion by Richman was successful once more.

From the restart, Will Montgomery chased down Chinnor’s kick and gathered. He drew a penalty from Chinnor giving his side the scrum.

The match went on to have twenty scrums in a series of resets. Chinnor won a scrum penalty of their own and opted to kick for posts. They were unsuccessful.

Trailfinders held firm in defence but needed to convert it into offence. Craig Hampson controlled the ball at the breakdown and saw the space in the backfield. A kick from his right boot saw the ball bounce perfectly for a chase down by Hayden Hyde, who scored in the corner. Johnson added the conversion.

Chinnor continued to draw penalties and opted for set piece play. They were able to capitalise on the infringements when Richie Simpson scored their fourth try nearing full-time. The conversion by Richman was successful once more.

Trailfinders drew a penalty of their own and had a lineout on the halfway line. They drove the maul forward after gathering cleanly, drawing a penalty. Momentum on their side, Trailfinders continued to run with attacking ball.

Hyde saw another gap and sliced through Chinnor’s defence to score a second try. Johnson converted successfully.

Ealing Trailfinders saw out the final minutes of the game to secure their first win of the season.

Full-Time: Chinnor 26-43 Ealing Trailfinders