Ealing Trailfinders vs Doncaster Knights

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders secured an emphatic 49-31 victory over Doncaster Knights in a frantic 12 try thriller at TFSC.

The away side took the lead on four minutes through Rhys Tait after a brilliant breakaway down the right flank from Maliq Holden, who grubber kicked through to himself only to be felled at the line, which Tait then picked up and bundled over. Bennett’s conversion was missed.

Trailfinders answered impressively, putting the Doncaster attack under serious pressure and driving them out on their own 5-metre line. Matt Cornish scored off the rolling maul to give the home side the lead, with Craig Willis adding the extras.

The home side scored again three minutes later, as Rayn Smid powered over the gain line after some slick play in the build-up to crash over the whitewash. Willis nailed the conversion to make it 14-5.

Trailfinders began to exert their dominance on the game, extending their lead further with a magnificent team try that began with a break down the left-hand side, and was stylishly finished off by Tom Collins with a quick step to cruise over the line. Willis’ clinical day with the boot continued.

An excellent hold up by Trailfinders on their own try-line prevented an impressive Doncaster breakaway from scoring, as Archie Smeaton fed in Ollie Fox off a 30-metre run only to be felled at the line.

Doncaster did make their efforts count not long after however, as a brilliant out of the back of the hands offload sucked in two Trailfinders defenders, leaving George Simpson free to score in the corner. Bennett added the conversion.

A spectacular Richard Hardwick try made it a 16 point lead again, as he broke through two hard-hitting tackles and burst through the Doncaster line to score from 40-metres out under the posts. Willis’ simple nudge made it a 28-12 game at half time.

Trailfinders started the second half emphatically, as Cornish scored his second of the day in the same fashion as his first, off the rolling maul. Willis converted again.

The home side continued to crank up the pressure, and made it count as Smid scored his second of the day, crossing the line uncontested after a smooth miss pass off a tap and go penalty. Willis’ conversion was good.

Doncaster put a dent in Trailfinders’ 30-point lead with a try finished and converted by Russell Bennett, who was played in by a ridiculous offload from Metcalf after a swiftly executed team move.

They scored again with slick try off a penalty in their own half. Fly-half Billy McBryde broke through Trailfinders’ line for a 25-metre run and calmly passed the ball inside to Metcalf who sauntered over the line. Bennett drop-kicked the extras.

Jonah Holmes’ try killed the spirited Doncaster revival as he was set up in acres of space by a delightfully chipped cross-field kick from Tom Collins to finish with ease. Willis made it a perfect day from the tee with his seventh conversion of the game.

Joe Margetts’ consolation score for Doncaster in the corner reduced the final score to 49-31, after Barney Maddison was sent to the sin bin in the final minutes to round off a frantic game.