Ealing Trailfinders vs Richmond

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders bounced back from their Round 7 disappointment against Saracens with a convincing 69-7 victory over Richmond at Vallis Way.

Debutant Charlie Walker got his club career off to the perfect start, as the Ealing forwards softened up the Richmond defence in the midfield, before the wing latched on to a Matt Gordon break and crossed the whitewash with just four minutes on the clock.

Next up for Trailfinders was Will Davis, as he bundled his way over the line from the back of a maul, before Craig Hampson capitalised on another Gordon line break to score Ealing’s third and put them within touching distance on the bonus point.

Captain Rayn Smid was the man to earn the bonus point, though, as an arcing run saw him round the Richmond defence and storm in from 40m out. Max Bodilly then wrapped up the first half with some incisive inside steps and a poacher’s try from close range.

Richmond struck back early in the second half through Callum Watson, after a smart reverse of play caught Ealing off guard and the scrum-half was able to scythe through a hole in the defence.

Trailfinders’ front rows then came alive in the ensuing 14 minutes, with Lewis Thiede, James Gibbons and Kyle Whyte all crossing the whitewash in quick succession, as Richmond struggled to live with Ealing’s physicality.

Hampson picked up his second score of the game when he acrobatically intercepted a Richmond attack in his own 22, before taking it the length of the field and adding further gloss to the Ealing performance.

Gordon stepped up once again with a strong carry and offload that saw him assist on a third score of the game, as Bodilly was on his shoulder to secure his brace of tries. The final mention went to Shane Buckley, who wrapped up the scoring in the 79th minute.

Ealing now face a rest week, before resuming their Championship campaign against Bedford Blues.

Ealing Trailfinders

15. David Johnston

14. Charlie Walker

13. Max Bodilly

12. Matt Gordon

11. James Cordy-Redden

10. Craig Willis

9. Craig Hampson

1. Will Davis

2. Shaun Malton

3. Lewis Thiede

4. Simon Linsell

5. James Cannon

6. Shane Buckley

7. Simon Uzokwe

8. Rayn Smid

Replacements

16. Michael van Vuuren

17. James Gibbons

18. Kyle Whyte

19. Harry Casson

20. Guy Thompson

21. Jordan Burns

22. Luke Daniels

23. Malon Al-Jiboori

Scorers

Tries – Walker (4), Davis (15), Hampson (28, 63), Smid (31), Bodilly (40, 72), Thiede (45), Gibbons (52), Whyte (58), Buckley (79)

Conversions – Willis (4, 15, 31), Johnston (40, 45, 58, 72)

Richmond

15. Rob Kirby

14. Dan Kelly

13. Cameron Mitchell

12. Benjamin Cook

11. Will Kaye

10. Ted Landray

9. Callum Watson

1. Jonny Harris

2. Jack Musk

3. Jimmy Litchfield

4. Byron Hodge

5. Alex Bibic

6. Hamish Barton

7. Toby Saysell

8. Jake Parker

Replacements

16. Callum Torpey

17. Timmy Walford

18. Sam Gratton

19. Freddie Hosking

20. David Massey

21. Jake Allcock

22. Charlie Gowling

23. Jake Caddy

Scorers

Tries – Watson (44)

Conversions – Landray (44)