Ealing Trailfinders vs Bedford Blues

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders rampaged their way to their biggest win of the season after a huge 80-17 victory over Bedford Blues.

The West Londoners scored 12 tries in total in a relentless attacking display to put the Blues to the sword in mightily impressive fashion.

Once again the Green and Whites started quickly and scored their first try inside the opening 60 seconds. Craig Willis went straight through a gap in the defence and had Elijah Niko alongside him who crossed for his first try for the club.

Bedford however responded straight away and took the lead with 3 minutes on the clock. Dan Temm intercepted and raced through from 50 metres out to score. Lewis Robling’s conversion gave the visitors a 7-5 advantage.

That seemed to galvanise the Trailfinders who then scored three tries in six minutes to take control of the match.

Elliot Millar Mills powered over from close range to put his side back in front, before Reon Joseph had a walk in to the line after Tommy Bell’s pass out the back.

Craig Willis then strolled through an enormous hole to secure the bonus point, as the Trailfinders held a 24-7 lead with only 16 minutes played.

Rayn Smid was next to cross the line in a strong captain’s performance, again Bell was playing at second receiver and hit the skipper with a flat pass to cruise his way over.

Bell was rewarded with a try of his own on the half hour mark, a five metre scrum gave the hosts a fine attacking platform and as it spun wide the full-back then squeezed over in the corner.

Fields then got one back for the Blues from a rolling maul, but the Trailfinders still had time for two more tries before the break to bring up the half century.

Elijah Niko pounced on Willis’ cross field kick to bring up the 40 point mark, and then Jordy Reid was the beneficiary of Andrew Durutalo’s big carry to make it 52-12 to the hosts at half time.

The Trailfinders showed no signs of letting off in the second half, with Harry Sloan scoring after just 90 seconds. Another defence splitting pass from Willis allowed the centre to run clear from outside the 22.

Bedford then looked to rally as they eyed a try bonus point, and Dan Temm took a penalty quickly to score their third.

The Green and Whites however refused to let off and scored three more tries in the final quarter to extend the lead even further.

A collapsed maul fell just short of the try-line, and Kieran Murphy was there from the next phase to batter his way over. Craig Hampson then quick-tapped from just five metres out to bring up 70 points, and David Johnston then rounded off the scoring with a long range try to broaden the smiles on the home supporters.

Craig Willis added his 10th conversion to make it 80-17, and confirm an enormous victory for the Trailfinders who go from strength to strength in the Championship Cup.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Tommy Bell 14 Elijah Niko 13 David Johnston 12 Harry Sloan 11 Reon Joseph (replaced by Lewis Jones, 70 mins) 10 Craig Willis 9 Nathan Fowles (replaced by Craig Hampson, 50 mins) 1 Jordan Els (replaced by Will Davis, 55 mins) 2 Matt Cornish (replaced by Alun Walker, 55 mins) 3 Elliot Millar Mills (replaced by Craig Trenier, 55 mins) 4 Sam Dickinson (replaced by Ben West, 50 mins) 5 James Cannon 6 Andrew Durutalo (replaced by Shane Buckley, 60 mins) 7 Jordy Reid (replaced by Kieran Murphy, 50 mins) 8 Rayn Smid (c)

Replacements:

16 Alun Walker 17 Will Davis 18 Craig Trenier 19 Ben West 20 Kieran Murphy 21 Shane Buckley 22 Craig Hampson 23 Lewis Jones

Scorers:

Tries: Elijah Niko (1, 38 minutes) Elliot Millar Mills (5 minutes) Reon Joseph (11 minutes) Craig Willis (14 minutes) Rayn Smid (25 minutes) Tommy Bell (31 minutes) Jordy Reid (40 minutes) Harry Sloan (42 minutes) Kieran Murphy (60 minutes) Craig Hampson (67 minutes) David Johnston (70 minutes)

Conversions: Craig Willis (5, 14, 25, 31, 38, 40, 42, 60, 67, 70 minutes)

Bedford Blues:

15 Ed Coulson 14 Pat Tapley 13 Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas 12 Fraser Strachan 11 Dean Adamson 10 Lewis Robling 9 James Lennon 1 Joe Wrafter 2 Jacob Fields 3 Karl Garisde 4 Oli Curry 5 Will Carrick Smith 6 Dan Temm © 7 Josh Buggea 8 Huw Worthington

Replacements:

16 Robbie Smith 17 Sean McCarthy 18 Henry Paul 19 Jordan Onojaife 20 Devante Onojaife 21 Grayson Hart 22 Sam Leeming 23 Charlie Reed

Scorers:

Tries: Dan Temm (3, 50 minutes) Jacob Fields (36 minutes)

Conversions: Lewis Robling (3 minutes)

Match Officials:

Referee: Jack Makepeace

Assistant Referees: Ian Bibey & Robert Warburton

Fourth Official: Benjamin Wilde

Attendance: 630

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 52-12 Bedford Blues

Soane’s Kitchen Man of the Match: Craig Willis