Ealing Trailfinders vs Cornish Pirates

Match Report

A Will Davis brace helped Ealing Trailfinders to a dominant victory over Cornish Pirates at Trailfinders Sports Club.

In what was a close first half, the hosts were able to keep the visitors scoreless in the second 40 as they managed to break the half century with the final play of the game.

The win sees Trailfinders move six points clear at the top of the Championship table as they head into the final month of the season.

With a big crowd inside TFSC, the ‘Green and Whites’ took no time to fire into action, with Ollie Newman bursting through the Pirates defence to score unopposed after three minutes.

Three minutes after that, a silky first phase move almost saw Cian Kelleher go over in the corner, but the ball was quickly recycled and shifted to the far side allowing Alun Walker to crash over.

Then, with Pirates’ first attack of the game, Robin Wedlake went on a mazy run and managed to score in the far corner.

Trailfinders answered straight back just before the 20 minute mark, as Davis was able to bundle over from close after several effective pick and go phases from the forwards.

Pirates then got their second of the match after AJ Cant burst through the line and found Arthur Relton to allow the winger to make it 19-12.

It appeared that the scoring was done for the first half, but with the clock in the red, Pirates captain Rory Part was sent to the bin. Then off the following scrum, Harvey Beaton was also sent to the bin for repeated scrum penalties. Now being down to 13 men, Trailfinders swung the ball wide and Kelleher ran in unopposed.

In the second-half, it took the hosts only three minutes for Davis to grab his second, again bundling over from close range.

Then just after the 50 minute mark, a free-flowing move was finished off by Dan Lancaster putting in a cheeky grubber kick which allowed Pat Howard to dot down.

After a scrappy 20 minutes which followed this, James Cordy-Redden was able to bundle over for his sixth try of the month.

With a few minutes left to go, the latest graduate from the Trailfinders Rugby Academy at Brunel University, Lefty Zigiriadis came off the bench to make his first team appearance.

The final try of the day was potentially the best, as Trailfinders went the length of the pitch as Max Bodilly secured the eight try to put the cherry on top of an already impressive cake!