Ealing Trailfinders’ season comes to an end in a nail-biting semi-final clash against Worcester Warriors.

A furious start from the visitors saw them gain territory in Trailfinders’ half. Playing with advantage, Worcester eventually opted to kick for the corner from the boot of Will Reed. After winning their lineout, Warriors went through the phases with the green wall standing firm though they did give the visitors a second penalty. Continuing to defend from Worcester’s tap and go, Trailfinders fought valiantly but Worcester eventually forced themselves over the line from the hands of Hugh Bokenham. Billy Twelvetrees added the extras.

A missed lineout for Trailfinders gave the visitors another attacking opportunity. Twelvetrees decided to kick the ball away and Michael Dykes gathered and marked the kick.

Once more, Worcester tried to stifle Trailfinders with their relentless attack. Going through the phases moving from right to left, Worcester hunted for a second try and were eventually fruitful in their efforts. Dan Jones chased down the conversion to deny Worcester the extras.

With the ball back in their possession after a short kick, Trailfinders were able to stamp their attack back onto Worcester. But a counter ruck from Fraser Balmain turned the ball over for Worcester. Trailfinders were yet to enter the visitors’ 22.

After the ball went dead, the two sides fronted up for the first scrum as the clock entered the fifteen-minute mark. Worcester held the scrum but opted for a kick down field which went into the dead zone to set the teams up for another scrum on the edge of Trailfinders’ 22. The men in green held the scrum and Michael Stronge whipped the ball out to Rory Scannell who carried ten metres but the ball was spilt.

The visitors continued with their relentless attack and once again found themselves in Ealing’s 22. But a spilt ball gave Trailfinders a scrum. The men in green held and Dykes put boot to ball to exit their 22. Worcester won the line out and they kicked into gear with Siva Naulago finding the gap to go over for Worcester’s third try. Twelvetrees added the extras.

From the restart, Worcester blocked the chasing players. Dan Jones kicked the ball to the corner after being awarded the penalty for Ealing’s first 22 entry. Wrapping up Worcester’s defence, Stronge went wide for Dykes to score under the posts. Jones added the conversion.

Worcester looked to continue their attacking dominance but in their eagerness to do so, they spilt the ball forward for another scrum with a put in for Stronge. Trailfinders held the scrum and Jones put boot to ball for a 50-22. Warriors fronted up in defending the driving maul and stripped the ball. They whipped the ball to the right hand channel but another kick chase that went dead reset play.

Jones opted for a short kick to kick-start Trailfinders’ attack once more. Warriors continued to push Trailfinders back but they leaked penalties as Ealing piled on the pressure. After continuous attacking phases, Trailfinders came away with points from the hands of Conor Oliver.

Early replacements in the front row for Trailfinders added an extra level of energy for the home side as they looked to claw back the score deficit. But no scores in the final few minutes of the first half meant that the visitors went into the changing rooms with the score advantage.

Half-time: Ealing Trailfinders 12-19 Worcester Warriors 

Dan Jones started the second-half with a kick into Worcester’s 22. The visitors kicked the ball away and Trailfinders had a line out but a spilt ball in the attacking phases gave Warriors the scrum.

Holding onto the ball after the scrum, Trailfinders eventually secured the ball back with a turnover on their edge of their 22. Jones sent the ball into touch just shy of the halfway line.

Trailfinders found attacking rhythm but a spilt ball on the left channel saw for a Warriors scrum.

Warriors looked to run the ball but the men in green targeted the break down and got the turnover after Worcester continued to hold on. Jones kicked for the corner.

After a gritty mid-field interplay period, skipper Josh Taylor carried through three defenders creating space for Ealing to attack. The ball went wide to Francis Moore who ran the ball and then passed inside to Dykes who went over for Trailfinders’ third try. Jones levelled the score with the conversion.

Trailfinders hunted for a fourth try after another break by Moore to Dykes to Jordy Reid and gave the men in green territory. Worcester narrowed Ealing up in attack and were given a penalty for Trailfinders blocking. Reed kicked the ball into touch for a Warriors lineout. Yet, a knock-on from the visitors gave Ealing the put in for the scrum and drew a penalty.

Taylor gathered the Trailfinders lineout and Worcester penalised in the maul. Jones kicked to the corner. A lineout into the driving maul saw Scott Buckley go over the try line to take the men in green ahead in the game for the first time.

Worcester looked to strike back but a spilt ball in the fourth phase gave Trailfinders the momentum. An Ealing scrum saw them win the penalty and Jones once again kicked to touch.

Eventually regaining possession, Warriors were back in Ealing’s 22 and the fly-half Will Reed put a grubber through and chased his own kick to score their fourth try. Reed failed to convert his own kick so the score remained level.

Worcester gained a penalty just in Trailfinders’ half and Reed opted for the posts. The ball soared over to take the Warriors into the lead.

A fifth try by Dan Jones saw Trailfinders go into the lead as the game was nearing a close.

But Worcester replied with a another try of their own to take the lead as the clock dwindled into eighty minutes.

Full-time: Ealing Trailfinders 29-34 Worcester Warriors 

Ealing Trailfinders – 

Tries: Michael Dykes 26 50, Conor Oliver 36, Scott Buckley 59, Dan Jones 79

Conversions: Dan Jones 26 51

Worcester Warriors – 

Tries: Hugh Bokenham 4, Siva Naulago 10 23, Will Reed 67, Will Garside 80

Conversions: Billy Twelvetrees 5 24

Penalties: Will Reed 75