Doncaster Knights vs Ealing Trailfinders

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders were crowned 23/24 Championship Champions after their 20-12 loss to Doncaster at Castle Park due to Cornish Pirates’ win over Coventry.

Tries from Matt Cornish and Tom Collins were not enough to give Trailfinders the win on the day.

The result sets up the perfect end to the campaign as Ealing Trailfinders host Bedford Blues on May 25th.

Surprisingly given the stakes, Trailfinders started brightly. Playing straight into the Doncaster 22 and giving Cornish the opportunity to score one of his patented tries on the back of Trailfinders’ rolling maul.

However, this is where the creative freedom would stop for the Trailfinders with the game turning into a scrappy affair despite the perfect atmospheric conditions.

The Castle Park faithful had to wait almost 20 minutes for the next score. Ex-Trailfinder Ollie Fox crossing the whitewash against his old club to level the scores.

Bad then turned to worse as Craig Willis and Tom Collins were yellow carded in quick succession leaving Trailfinders with 13.

Following Tom Collins’ sin bin, Russ Bennett knocked over an easy penalty to leave the Knights up 10-7 at the break.

Much like the first term, the second half was a tense affair.

Trailfinders dealt with their player deficit well early on in the half, and back to the full compliment, created enough space for Tom Collins to beat two Doncaster players to finish brilliantly in the corner.

Doncaster would reply instantly, however, to grab the lead back with 20 to play in the game.

With a Russ Bennett penalty tacked on, Doncaster would close out the occasion to win 20-12.

Following Cornish Pirates 22-12 victory over Coventry, however, Ealing Trailfinders were crowned champions.

Thank you so much to all the fans that have supported us all year.