Ealing Trailfinders overcame an 11 point second-half deficit to win away at Sixways Stadium.
Tries from Mike Willemse, Josh Taylor, Michael Stronge, Reuben Bird-Tulloch and Francis Moore sealed a tough 28-34 victory over Worcester Warriors.
When Trailfinders hosted Worcester in January, the men from Ealing won by only one point at Trailfinders Sports Ground, and this clash was a similarly tense affair, with the match on a knife edge throughout. Ealing Trailfinders arrived at Sixways top of the Champ table and unbeaten in over a year, with Worcester Warriors in fourth place aiming to beat the streak, but a spirited second half comeback ensured Trailfinders extended their record breaking unbeaten streak by yet another match.
Worcester looked to be in for a try from a breakaway in the opening minutes, but Toby Cousins pulled off a spectacular try-saver to prevent a certain score. However, an infringement at the breakdown gave Worcester a penalty, and from a tap and go Hallam Chapman crashed over for the opening score, with Billy Twelvetrees knocking over the conversion.
Ealing Trailfinders didn’t take long to hit back, with a penalty advantage kicked to the corner, and from the back of a rolling maul Mike Willemse dived over, although Rory Scannell missed the conversion from a tough angle.
Five minutes later Trailfinders kicked into the right corner, and after the maul was stopped just metres out Scannell called for the ball and put Josh Taylor in for Ealing’s second try with a sumptuous offload. Scannell couldn’t add the extras, but Trailfinders had taken the lead.
Worcester’s Billy Twelvetrees was yellow carded for slowing the ball down after a slick linebreak from Patrick Campbell. Moments later Trailfinders exposed the space out wide, with slick hands from Tom Collins and Toby Cousins putting Michael Stronge in for a try. Scannell nailed the conversion to extend our lead.
Against the run of play Worcester’s Alfie Garside grabbed an intercept try, and Rory Taylor narrowed the deficit with a conversion to make the score 14-17 in Trailfinders’ favour.
Despite some resolute Trailfinders defence, after repeated phases in our 22 Archie Vanes scored from the back of a rolling maul, and Twelvetrees added the conversion after returning from the sin bin. Trailfinders showed some really strong attacking intent in the final minutes of the half, but we went back into the changing rooms 21-17 behind.
Half-time Worcester Warriors 21-17 Ealing Trailfinders
In the second minute of the second half, Josh Bassett crossed for Worcester’s fourth try off a set-piece move, with Twelvetrees kicking another conversion.
After a scoreless ten minutes, Trailfinders built up phases in the Worcester 22, before Reuben Bird-Tulloch was put through a gap for a well deserved try. Scannell slotted the conversion to bring us within just four points of Worcester.
Repeated Worcester infringements gifted Trailfinders field position and some ferocious carrying from our forward pack got us just metres from the tryline. Some amazing interplay, particularly a ridiculous pickup and offload by Kyle Hatherell helped get the ball wide, and Francis Moore dove over in the corner. From the left touchline Scannell nailed the extras, extending our lead to three points.
With just minutes remaining a tense finish was on the cards, and a Worcester lineout went astray on the halfway line leading to a breakaway by Trailfinders, although the home side were able to mitigate the damage and force a knock on.
In the final minute Trailfinders earned a penalty in the Worcester 22, and Scannell wound down the clock before he added a final three points to the scoreline, as the referee blew the whistle to end a hard-fought victory against a tough Worcester Warriors side.
Full-time Worcester Warriors 28-34 Ealing Trailfinders
Worcester Warriors: 28
Tries – Hallam Chapman 4, Alfie Garside 26, Archie Vanes 37, Josh Bassett 42
Conversions – Billy Twelvetrees 5 38 43, Rory Taylor 27
Yellow Cards – Billy Twelvetrees 16
Ealing Trailfinders: 34
Tries – Mike Willemse 7, Josh Taylor 12, Michael Stronge 19, Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Francis Moore 67
Conversions – Rory Scannell 20 54 68,
Penalties – Rory Scannell 80
