Hartpury RFC vs Ealing Trailfinders

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders beat Hartpury 12-45 at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium in the final match of the season.

Tries from Geordie Gwynn, David Bridge, Michael Dykes, Max Bodilly, Tobi Wilson and a brace from Matt Cornish secured the bonus point win for Trailfinders.

Ealing Trailfinders finished 13 points clear of second-place Bedford at the conclusion of the Championship campaign.

It was an electric start from the visitors when Dykes found his way through a hole and created a two-on-one with the fullback. Academy graduate Gwynn was on his shoulder and dived over for a debut try.

The maul has been a strong weapon all season for the visitors and delivered once again early on. They got it rolling and Cornish burrowed his way over for his first of the afternoon.

Hartpury hit back through Jack Johnson. The winger was on the end of a clever kick through and Bodilly was sent to the sin bin for a tackle off the ball.

However, it didn’t take long for Ben Ward’s men to restore their two-score lead. Michael Stronge noticed some tired defenders and opted for a quick tap from the penalty. He gave it to Bridge, who powered his way past Hartpury.

Just before the break, Hartpury tried to play out from the back, but Dykes was on hand to intercept a looping pass and dot down to stretch the gap between the sides.

Half-time: Hartpury 5-28 Ealing Trailfinders

After the restart, George Worboys and Siya Ningiza combined on the left-hand side to break into the 22. The ball was then moved out right and found its way to Bodilly, who signed off his final game for the club with a try.

Hartpury hit back through Max Knight. The hosts made good use of a period of pressure in the Trailfinders 22, and the centre found a gap and sprinted clear.

Cornish completed his brace after an initial break from Francis Moore. The ball was moved out wide and the hooker finished well against the covering defence.

With five minutes left on the clock, Bridge powered down the wing leaving bodies in his wake and  got a one-handed offload away to Wilson, who had a straightforward run-in.

Victory left Ealing Trailfinders with a huge total of 99 league points, their highest Championship total ever!

Full-time: Hartpury 12-38 Ealing Trailfinders

 

Hartpury:

Tries- Jack Johnson 19, Max Knight 56

Conversions- Harry Bazalgette 57

Ealing Trailfinders:

Tries- Geordie Gwynn 2, Matt Cornish 5 66. David Bridge 22, Michael Dykes 34, Max Bodilly 46 Tobi Wilson 75

Conversions- George Worboys 3 6 23 35 76

Yellow cards – Max Bodilly 19