Bristol Rugby vs Ealing Trailfinders

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders were unable to claim any points on their trip to face league leaders Bristol, who put in a clinical display to underline their status as promotion favourites.

Phil Chesters and Rhys Crane scored tries for the second week running, but Bristol’s powerful pack gave them the edge over the 80 minutes and supplied their back-line with plentiful ball to play with under the lights of Ashton Gate.

It didn’t take the hosts long to start the scoring and captain Ollie Robinson was driven over from a line-out after two minutes that Gavin Henson converted to give Andy Robinson’s side the early advantage.

Ealing Trailfinders responded with attacks of their own and Harrison Orr and Chesters nearly capitalised on clever Ben Ward chips over the defence, but when the play went up the other end of the field, Henson knocked over a penalty to stretch Bristol’s lead.

Robinson nearly added a second but knocked on following a rolling maul, but after a flowing back-line move Ben Mosses dived over in the corner and he added a second soon after to put the hosts in sight of a four-try bonus point halfway through the first half.

The visitors finally broke out of their half and as half-time drew near began to build some momentum. Eventually good hands from Rhys Lawrence and Adam Preocanin set Chesters free to round Tom Varndell to score in the corner, but while they continued to press as the half wore on they were unable to find another breakthrough.

After half-time Bristol didn’t waste any time putting the result out of reach. First Varndell cut in off his wing to pop up on Henson’s shoulder to race home and then Charlie Amesbury did the same off the left wing.

By then their forwards had clearly had enough of the backs dominating the scoring, so drove Ross McMillan over from another line-out take.

Crane went over in the corner just after the 60-minute mark after Alex Penny and George Porter had come close. It gave Ealing Trailfinders some hope of a four-try bonus point, but it was Bristol who added to the scoring.

First former Ealing Trailfinders loanee Max Crumpton was driven over and then Welsh international Matthew Morgan came off the bench to break the line and catch his chip ahead to round off the night for the hosts.

Scorers
Bristol
Tries (Robinson (2), Mosses (2), Varndell, Amesbury, McMillan, Crumpton, Morgan), Conversions (Henson (6), Penalties (Henson (2)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Chesters, Crane)

Bristol
Luke Arscott, Tom Varndell, Jack Tovey, Ben Mosses, Charlie Amesbury, Gavin Henson, Will Cliff, Jack O’Connell, Marc Jones, Gaston Cortes, Ian Evans, Joe Joyce, James Phillips, Olly Robinson (captain), Mitch Eadie
Reserves
Ross McMillan, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Glen Townson, Max Crumpton, Martin Roberts, Matthew Morgan, Ryan Edwards

Ealing Trailfinders
Sam Stanley, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Toby Howley-Berridge, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence, Sam Rodman, Llewelyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Harrison Orr, Arthur Ellis, Danny Kenny (captain)
Reserves
George Porter, Karl Gibson, Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Chris York, Tom Trotter, Callum Wilson

Attendance – 5, 517
Referee – Steve Lee