Ealing Trailfinders vs Blaydon RFC

Match Report

Ealing, London, 20 September, 2014 – Ealing Trailfinders ensured that they ended the day with a full 15 points and top of National 1 after running in five tries against Blaydon.

Captain Tom Brown set the tone when he caught the kickoff and went on a charge through the Blaydon defence that immediately put Ealing Trailfinders on the front foot.

Chris Kinloch carried on the momentum and after he was stopped Ben Ward picked out Phil Chesters with a crosskick, but he and Ronnie were unable to control the ball.

The hosts won a penalty from the resulting scrum and after a catch and drive from the lineout hooker Andrei Radoi burrowed over to open the scoring.

Minutes later Ealing Trailfinders extended the lead further still. Tom Wheatcroft intercepted a loose pass, broke into the Blaydon 22 and sent through a grubber to Chesters, who had the simple job of picking up and flopping over the line for his third of the season, which James Love converted.

Arthur Ellis then grabbed his third try of the season when he latched onto the back of a rolling maul, before Blaydon fought back through their pack.

Local lad Ellis grabbed his third of the season when he attached himself to the back of a rolling maul, but Blaydon were next on the scoresheet when fullback Nathan Bailey ran a sharp line to cross the line for a try that centre Andrew Baggett’s converted.

Ealing Trailfinders came close to hitting back immediately, but after nifty footwork by Love, his opposite number Bailey tackled him into touch.

They managed to wrap up the bonus point before the break though. Wheatcroft again latched onto a loose pass, raced away and McLean kept the move going by finding Chesters out wide and he scored in the corner.

The first half scoring didn’t end there though and Love knocked over a penalty on the stroke of halftime to stretch the lead further still.

Chris Kinloch carried on the scoring eight minutes into the second half with his first try of the season and with Love’s conversion from the touchline it put the hosts 30 points ahead.

Blaydon continued to battle and pressure Ealing Trailfinders’ defence, but were unable to find a way through. Then when Ealing Trailfinders went on attack their defence was in dogged mood and kept the hosts out.

It continued in that vein as the match drew to a close, both teams unable to find a way through determined tackling, though Ellis came close to adding a second when he was stopped on the line.

Ealing Trailfinders

James Love, Chris Kinloch, Ronnie McLean, Tom Wheatcroft, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Jamie Kilbane, Andrei Radoi, Nathan Buck, Carwyn Jones, Llewelyn Jones, Danny Kenny, Arthur Ellis, Tom Brown (captain)

Reserves

Kevin Davis, Alex Penny, Steve Pape, Sean O’Connell, Matt Jarvis

Scorers

Tries (Radoi 7, Chesters 10, 38, Ellis 17, Kinloch 48), Conversions (Love 11, 18, 39, 49), Penalties (Love 40)

Blaydon

Nathan Bailey, Sean Brown, Thomas Small, Andrew Baggett, Thomas Jeffery, Craig Willis, Rhodri Adamson; Robert Kalbraier, Francis Entressengle, Andrew Foster, Christopher Wearmouth, Shaun English, Keith Laughlin, Harry Bate, Gavin Jones

Reserves

Trevor Davison, Victor Guignourd, Andrew Archibald, Oliver Wood, Frazer Wilson

Scorers

Try (Bailey 25), Conversion (Baggett 25)

Referee – Shane Lewis

Attendance – 275