Ealing Trailfinders vs Scarlets

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders reached the semifinals of the British and Irish Cup for the first time after they ran in 12 tries against the Scarlets Premiership Select XV.

It was a dominant performance from Ben Ward’s side and after an early scare they took a firm grip on proceedings and held it to the final whistle. Their physicality and organisation in defence stopped the Welsh side from breaking through and then when they went on the attack they were ruthless in taking their chances.

Nonetheless Scarlets started the stronger and after Gareth Owen had powered his way through the home side’s defence, his partner in the centres Richard Smith dotted down in the corner for a try that Billy McBryde converted.

Rory Clegg slotted a penalty to calm nerves and soon after Arthur Ellis took Rayn Smid’s pass to finish off a slick passing move.

Clegg added his second penalty and then his soft hands set Aled Jenkins free to wiggle through the Scarlets defence to round fullback Aled Thomas and score. Then as halftime drew nearer Curtis Wilson outpaced Scarlets captain Morgan Allen to gather his kick-through and touch down.

After the break there was no let-up and James Cordy-Redden took little time to score in the corner before fullback Will Harries swooped on a loose ball to scoot round behind the posts.

As the game opened up Smid and Mark Bright began to relish running at the Scarlets defence and both were rewarded by ending the match on the scoresheet.

Scarlets continued to give their all and while Jack Maynard added energy off the bench they were still unable to find a way past Ealing Trailfinders’ defence.

In the last 10 minutes Joe Munro, Lewis Jones and Josh Davies finished off swift counter-attacks to cap an impressive performance and set up a semifinal away to either Munster A or Ulster A over the first weekend of April.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Ellis 16, Jenkins 27, Wilson 38, 68 Cordy-Redden 44, 70, Harries 53, Smid 57, Bright 65, Davies 72, Lewis Jones 75, Munro 77), Conversions (Clegg 27, 38, 53, 57, 65, 70, 72, 75, 77), Penalties (Clegg 11, 22)
Scarlets Premiership Select
Tries (Richard Smith 6), Conversions (McBryde 6)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, James Cordy-Redden, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Curtis Wilson, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Glen Townson, Rayn Smid, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, James Gibbons, Alex Penny, Harry Casson, Willie Ryan, Josh Davies, Lewis Jones

Scarlets Premiership Select
Aled Thomas, Tom Williams, Richard Smith, Gareth Owen, Matthew Owen, Billy McBryde, Declan Smith; Luke Garett, Daf Hughes, Nicky Thomas, Josh Helps, Rynier Barnardo, Jack Condy, Tom Phillips, Morgan Allen (captain)
Reserves
Rhys Fawcett, Taylor Davies, Haven Sabastian, Joe Powell, Shaun Evans, Connor Lloyd, Jack Maynard

Referee – Nigel Correll
Attendance – 650
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Curtis Wilson