London Scottish vs Ealing Trailfinders

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders endured a torrid night away to London Scottish under the lights of the Athletic Ground as the hosts controlled the match from start to finish to impose the visitors fourth defeat in the Greene King IPA Championship this season.

The pack earned a penalty try at the end of the first half and Alun Walker was driven over in the second half, but otherwise the hosts pulled the strings to help them climb the Championship table.

London Scottish kicked off and were rewarded for keeping their visitors pinned in their own half for the first five minutes when fullback Peter Lydon kicked a penalty to take an early lead.

They continued to exert the early pressure and Lydon slotted his second penalty five minutes later to put the hosts comfortably in control. Wing Jason Harries then opened the try-scoring when he popped up on centre Patrick Kelly’s shoulder to run in.

Ealing Trailfinders finally managed to build some momentum and Harry Casson and Willie Ryan both broke the line with powerful runs, but eventually Scottish won a turnover and kicked deep to pin the visitors back in their own half.

Again they left with points after Lydon slotted his third penalty of the night, but Scottish continued to dominate possession and Lydon scored his fourth penalty from just inside his own half.

Ealing Trailfinders weathered the pressure but were still unable to find a toe-hold in the match, but again Scottish made their pressure count when Lydon scored his fifth penalty of the night.

The first half ended with Ealing Trailfinders hammering the Scottish line and the earned their breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty try that Aaron Penberthy converted on the stroke of half-time.

Lydon started the second half as he started the first with another penalty, but Ealing Trailfinders responded by driving over Alun Walker from a lineout close to the Scottish line.

They were unable to build on it though and Lydon made it seven penalties from seven just as the clock ticked past the hour mark. That is how it remained as neither team were able to break either side down over the final 20 minutes.

Ealing Trailfinders will now face Bedford Blues at Goldington Road in the British and Irish Cup on Saturday 10 December.

Scorers
London Scottish
Tries (Harries 14), Conversions (Lydon 14), Penalties (Lydon 5, 10, 19, 22, 36, 43, 59)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Penalty 40, Walker 50), Conversions (Penberthy 40)

London Scottish
Peter Lydon, Alec Coombes, Robbie Fergusson, Patrick Kelly, Jason Harries, Harry Sheppard, Ed Hoadley; Grant Shiells, George Turner, Ewan McQuillin, Rory Bartle (captain), Neale Patrick, Ally Miller, Danny Kenny, Ifereimi Boladau
Reserves
Devlin Hope, Jonny Harris, Dan Koroi, Callum Hunter Hill, Joe Atkinson, Craig Holland, Tom Galbraith

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Curtis Wilson, Aaron Penberthy, Alex Walker; James Gibbons, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Harry Casson, Adam Preocanin, Willie Ryan, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Ignacio Lancuba, Alex Penny, Llewelyn Jones, Lewis Jones, Luke Carter, Ben Ward

Referee – John Merideth
Attendance – 951