Chinnor vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders come out on top 8-28 in a tough battle against Chinnor in Round 11 of the Championship.

Tries from Mike Willemse, Ben Harris and a brace from Tobi Wilson secured five points for the visitors.

Trailfinders sit 17 points clear at the top of the Championship with five Round 11 matches still to play this weekend.

Chinnor started the brighter of the two sides, much to the pleasure of a packed out Kingsley Road. Three minutes in, Nick Smith stepped up from 40 metres to give the home side an early lead.

Trailfinders’ captain lead from the front to score the visitors’ first of the evening. Willemse found his way to the whitewash at the back of a dominant rolling maul.

The rest of the first-half was one way traffic. Next, it was Wilson who scored his first under the lights. After multiple phases in the Chinnor 22, Craig Willis called for the ball out the back, got his hands free in the tackle and Wilson raced to the line.

Ealing Trailfinders once again found themselves inside the opposition 22. This time Ben Harris spotted a gap and sprinted towards the line to extend the Londoners lead which rounded off a dominant first-half display.

Half-time: Chinnor 3-21 Ealing Trailfinders

Despite the hosts starting well in the second 40, they struggled to break down the Trailfinders defence. It was a scrappy third quarter of the game, with neither team able to build any momentum.

Wilson changed that to secure the bonus point for Ben Ward’s men. The fullback found space down the lefthand side and weaved through Chinnor bodies to score his second. Willis made it four from four off tee and maintained his 100% record to stretch the lead.

The hosts never dropped out of the fight and scored their first try at the death. After a rolling maul, the ball was moved out wide and Callum Pascoe went over untouched.

A hard fought victory on the road leaves Ealing Trailfinders in a secure position at the top of the Championship table

Full-time: Chinnor 8-28 Ealing Trailfinders

Chinnor:

Tries- Callum Pascoe 78

Penalties- Nick Smith 3

Ealing Trailfinders:

Tries- Mike Willemse 13, Tobi Wilson 25 66, Ben Harris 33

Conversions- Craig Willis 14 26 34 67

Ealing Trailfinders vs Caldy

Ealing Trailfinders were 55-26 victors over Caldy, taking them 12 points clear at the top of The Championship.

Braces from Ben Harris and Angus Kernohan, along with tries from Simon Uzokwe, Mike Willemse, Will Montgomery, Reuben Bird-Tulloch and Rayn Smid, gave Trailfinders the full five points from the contest.

This result means Trailfinders stretch their lead at the top of The Championship to 12 points over 2nd placed Coventry after their loss to Nottingham.

Kernohan gave Trailfinders the perfect start, latching onto the end of a Francis Moore offload to go over in the corner.

Uzokwe was next to get over the line, this time from a classic pick-and-go, powering over the line with ease.

Then it seemed as if Caldy’s wheels were coming off. Willemse shot off the back of the rolling maul and crashed through the tacklers from short range.

Lewis Barker was then sent to the bin as he slapped the ball down, preventing a Kernohan breakaway.

Almost instantly, the North Irishman wrapped up his break on the end of a flowing Trailfinders set play.

The men in green continued to pile on the pressure. Prop Lefty Zigiriadis hit an unlikely 50-22, and Montgomery followed it up with a brutal carry to score.

That would end a perfect half for Trailfinders, who hoped the second would be more of the same.

Half-Time: Ealing Trailfinders 31-0 Caldy

Following the half-time message, Trailfinders scored straight away as Reuben Bird-Tulloch danced around a couple of Caldy tacklers to get over the line.

Having come on for David Bridge at half-time, Smid saw Yellow for a high tackle, and Trailfinders were down to 14 for the following 10 minutes.

There was then a huge momentum shift in favour of the visitors, who had been out of the contest for 50 minutes.

Ollie Hearn opened Caldy’s account immediately after the Yellow, followed quickly by a score from Paul Robinson.

Trailfinders then received two more yellow cards to Montgomery and Matas Jurevicius, the latter resulting in a penalty try and bringing the team down to 12.

As Smid returned to the field, Trailfinders managed to find some composure and slowed the pace of the game.

They managed to hold onto the ball for large parts of the next 10 and kept it in Caldy’s 22 to keep the pressure off.

Smid then stretched the Trailfinders’ lead with a try of his own.

Harris then capped off the game with a double in the space of six minutes, bringing Trailfinders over the half-century.

The result moves Trailfinders 12 points clear, playing Chinnor away from home after the bye week.

Full-Time: 55-26 

Tries: 

Trailfinders

Kernohan (2, 26), Uzokwe (16), Willemse (19), Montgomery (32), Bird-Tulloch (42), Smid (69), Harris (74, 79)

Caldy 

Hearn (45), Robinson (50), Penalty (55), Maasai-White (71)

Conversions: 

Trailfinders

Willis (16, 20, 33, 42), Worboys (75)

Caldy

Barker (45, 50)

Yellow Cards:

Trailfinders

Smid (44), Montgomery (53), Jurevicius (55)

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Coventry vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders came out on top in a 25-35 win against Coventry in the Christmas top-of-the-table clash.

A brace from Micheal Dykes and Rob Farrar, as well as a try from Tobi Wilson and two penalties from Craig Willis, secured the victory.

The hosts had the first word taking the points when they were on offer early doors, an indication that every point would be crucial in a tight contest between these two sides.

Play was tight in the early excursions until Senitki Nayalo was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle, and Trailfinders found themselves with a player advantage.

Trailfinders launched immediately as Wilson walked through under the sticks, gathering an offload from Jordan Holgate, who made the half-break.

The referee was quick to his pocket again as he produced another yellow card, this time it was Dykes for taking the man out without the ball after a Coventry line break.

The hosts used the opportunity and took the points yet again to bring the gap to just one point.

Coventry, for all intents and purposes, looked like they were going to score as they were building pressure right at Trailfinders’ try line. However, an intercept from Dykes on his own line meant he raced it the length of the pitch to run it in for another score.

Coventry finally got a try on the board before the break as they were awarded a penalty try, the referee deemed Trailfinders to have collapsed the maul and Matt Cornish was sent to the bin on the cusp of halftime.

Half Time: Coventry 13-12 Ealing Trailfinders

Trailfinders managed to hold off a storm of early dangerous phases from Coventry as they eventually held the ball up over the line and denied the initial early try.

After some cagey play from both sides, Trailfinders eventually retook the lead. They built pressure in the red zone, and Dykes was able to finish in the corner for his second.

The hosts were under pressure as Trailfinders were building into the game and struck through a powerful rolling maul with Farrar, the beneficiary at the tail.

A great 50/22 nudge from a box kick allowed Trailfinders yet another entry into Coventry’s 22. The hosts gave away a penalty, and Willis took the three points.

It was a top-of-the-table clash for a reason, and Coventry were always going to fight back. They pounced on a loose ball following a mistake from Trailfinders, and the replacement hooker Will Biggs was able to score.

With ten minutes to go, it was less than a ten-point game, and things got tense at Butts Park Arena.

Despite that, Trailfinders remained resolute to maintain their position and had another try as Farrar broke down the wing and finished in the corner, taking the game beyond doubt.

Willis added another penalty with less than a minute on the clock to edge the lead even further.

However, Coventry had one more try right at the death from replacement scrum-half Fin Ogden.

It was the perfect Christmas present for Trailfinders, who remain on top of the table.

Full-Time: Coventry 25-35 Ealing Trailfinders

Coventry:

Tries- Penalty Try 37, Biggs 70, Ogden 79

Conversions- Matthews 80

Penalties- Richman 2, 21

Yellow Card- Nayalo 7

Ealing Trailfinders:

Tries- Wilson 11, Dykes 35, 54, Farrar 63, 76

Conversions- Jones 11, 55

Penalties- Willis 68, 79

Yellow Card- Dykes 20, Cornish 37

Ealing Trailfinders vs Cambridge

Ealing Trailfinders secured an awe-inspiring victory with a 95-7 over Cambridge.

There were 15 tries in total from Trailfinders, including braces from Matt Cornish, Tobi Wilson, Ben Harris and Cam Terry, as well as singles from David Bridge, Lloyd Williams, Michael Dykes, Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Sean Lonsdale, Matas Jurevicius and debutant Siya Ningiza.

Trailfinders opened the scoring with less than a minute on the board. After Cambridge conceded a penalty of the kick-off, Trailfinders went to the rolling maul, and Cornish crashed over.

The second came just two minutes later from Bridge as he galloped down the wing for a 14-point lead with just four minutes on the clock.

The third for the hosts came from Williams as he ran a perfect support line off Wilson’s shoulder to go over for another try.

Cambridge had an opportunity to respond from a quick tap penalty and grubber in behind; however, the ball rolled dead, as was their chance for their first try.

Trailfinders were earning clear dominance in the scrum early on and used it to their advantage, with Jones kicking them deep downfield into attacking positions.

Things got even worse for Cambridge as fullback Eli Caven was shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on. 

Trailfinders punished the mistake as Cornish got his second crashing over from short range and added another try mere minutes later on the other wing from Dykes.

As if that wasn’t punishment enough, the hosts launched straight from the kick-off return and played it out of their own half, throwing offloads until Bird-Tulloch dove in at the corner.

Wilson scored the next after a beautiful offload from Harris to put him in at the corner.

Lonsdale was the next to go over, chasing down a loose kick ahead from his lock partner.

Harris got the last try before the break, taking the hosts to over 50 points as they went into the sheds.

Half Time Score- Ealing Trailfinders  55-0 Cambridge

It took Trailfinders a few minutes to get going in the second period, but eventually, they went over from Jurevicius.

With that one on the board, the next one came within seconds, with Wilson racing in under the posts for his second.

Eventually, the visitors got a deserved try on the board from fullback Caven.

Trailfinders’ next score came from debutant Ningiza as he crashed over from close range, with Harris adding another in the corner yet again.

Terry two the board with five minutes left on the clock from the back of another rolling maul and added another shortly after to end the game.

Full-Time Score- Ealing Trailfinders  95-7 Cambridge

 Ealing Trailfinders-

Tries: Cornish 1, 21 Bridge 3, Williams 14, Dykes 26, Bird-Tulloch 27, Wilson 31, 51 Lonsdale 37, Harris 39, 69, Jurevicius 49, Ningiza 58, Terry 75, 79

Conversions: Jones 1, 4, 22, 38; Willis 50, 51, 59, 69, 76

Cambridge-

Tries: Caven 55

Conversions: Grimoldby 56

Yellow Card: Caven 20

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Bedford Blues vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders fought their way to a 25-17 win over Bedford at Goldington Road in horrendous conditions in the midst of Storm Darragh.

A brace from Matt Cornish, along with a penalty try and six points from the boot of Dan Jones were enough to give Trailfinders the win in Bedford.

The result means Trailfinders remain 2nd in the Championship, heading into the Christmas double header against Cambridge next weekend.

This game was always destined to be an attritional contest as Storm Darragh attempted to blow down Goldington Road, along with the rest of Great Britain.

The Bedford faithful were not deterred though, and healthy Blues crowd witnessed an 80 minute arm wrestle.

The hosts started with the slope, as well as the 50 mph breeze, and dictated the early play as a result.

They opened the scoring through the boot of Will Maisey, followed quickly by a Jones shot at goal to level the scoring.

Bedford then scored the game’s first try through a well worked set play sending Matt Worley over the line.

The scrap continued and, despite playing into the gales, Trailfinders scored next to close the gap.

Keeping the play tight, Cornish scored off the back of the rolling maul.

The hosts then widened their lead.  The ball was dabbed through off the boot and Alfie Garside slid in to dot the ball down.

Inexplicably given the atmospheric conditions, Trailfinders managed to hold the possession for the remainder of the half.  As such, the sides went into the sheds wondering if the Bedford lead had managed to reach the par set by the breeze.

Half Time: Bedford 17-8 Ealing Trailfinders

The second term started as cagey as the first ended. The kicks, either from nine or ten, were relentless as both teams tried to dictate territory.

Trailfinders crucially scored first via Jones’ second shot at goal after Bedford pushed their luck at the break down and the visitors were within a score.

Somehow the conditions then worsened, and the remainder of the game was a scrap for the ages.

Trailfinders pressured and pressured the hosts but failed to score for a large chunk of half, until disaster struck for Bedford.

Louie James saw yellow for an intentional knock-on that could have been a penalty try. Referee Craig Maxwell-Keys saw it differently however, and Jones kicked to the corner in search of a breakthrough.

Bedford then infringed at the maul, and a penalty try was awarded to give Trailfinders the lead, sending Fred Tuilagi to the bin.

Trailfinders didn’t capitalise on being two players up, but they widened their lead as Cornish rode on the back of another rolling maul for his second.

The result means that Trailfinders remain second in the Championship, two points behind Coventry in first.

Full Time: Bedford 17-25 Ealing Trailfinders

Tries:

Ealing Trailfinders

Cornish (22, 78), Penalty (67)

Bedford

Worley (10), Garside (25)

Conversions:

Ealing Trailfinders

Jones (79)

Bedford

Maisey (10, 25)

Penalties:

Ealing Trailfinders

Jones (7, 51)

Bedford

Maisey  (4)

Yellow Cards:

Bedford

James (65), Tuilagi (67)

Ealing Trailfinders vs London Scottish

Ealing Trailfinders secured another bonus point win in round six of the Championship after a return from the Prem Rugby Cup with a 63-28 win over London Scottish.

Tries from Jordy Reid, Bobby De Wee, Angus Kernohan, Ben Harris, a brace from Francis Moore, and a second-half hat trick from Henry Walker helped Trailfinders to victory.

Moore went over early doors for the first try of the game for Trailfinders, thanks to a beautifully worked backs move finished off well by the centre.

Scottish responded quickly, building pressure in the red zone until the loosehead prop Tom Osborne crashed over to level the score.

Building on the momentum, Scottish had another within minutes after a chicken wing offload to Stephen Kerins on a trailing support line, and the scrum-half went under the posts.

Trailfinders proved their clinical nature for their second try, executing a training ground lineout move, and Reid was the beneficiary at the tail.

The hosts had their foot on the gas and weren’t letting up. Another lineout drive and some phases later allowed De Wee to crash over and score their third.

They secure the bonus point through a walk-in by Kernohan, thanks to a wide pass out by Willis.

It was another winger over the line next as Harris raced down the wing and went over the line for a fifth try for Trailfinders.

Things got worse for Scottish as Will Trenholm was sent to the bin for a side entry at the maul.

Trailfinders immediately capitalised through Moore who scored his second.

Half Time: Ealing Trailfinders 42-14 London Scottish

The visitors came out for the second period and attempted to slow the tempo of the game down, controlling things much better than in the first 40.

Play became much tighter, with both sides fighting for every scrap of possession, with play remaining solidly in the middle third.

Eventually, Trailfinders would get their first score of the second half as Walker burrowed through at the back of a driving maul and scored.

Scottish replied immediately through a trick play at the lineout, throwing low, and the replacement scrum-half Dan Nutton collected and scored.

Trailfinders extended their lead yet again through two tries in quick succession through the weapon of the rolling maul, punishing the visitor’s ill-discipline, and Walker was the beneficiary completing his hat-trick.

London Scottish had constant pressure right at the death, and eventually, Matt Wilkinson crashed over for another try to end the game.

Full-Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 63-28 London Scottish

 

Ealing Trailfinders:

Tries- Moore 3, 35, Reid 16, De Wee 22, Kernohan 26, Harris 30, Walker 61, 69, 74

Conversions- Willis 4, 16, 22, 27, 31, Jones 61, 70, 75

 

London Scottish:

Tries- Osbourne 6, Kerins 9, Nutton 64, Wilkinson 80

Conversions- Bellamy 7, 10, 65, 80

Yellow Card- Trenholm 35

 

Ealing Trailfinders vs Ampthill

Ealing Trailfinders secure an outstanding 92-0 victory at home against Ampthill in their round five Championship fixture.

The hosts impressively scored 14 tries in total and denied the visitors a single point for the entire 80 in what can only be described as a clinical performance from the hosts.

There were individual tries from Francis Moore, Matt Cornish, Angus Kernohan, Rayn Smid, Will Montgomery, Mikey Willemse, and Jordy Reid, with Reuben Bird-Tulloch and Tobi Wilson scoring braces as well as a hat-trick from Tom Collins.

It was an unfortunate opening minute for the visitors, with winger Wilson Ijeh shown an early yellow for a deliberate knock-on.

Trailfinders immediately capitalised on the extra man advantage as Reuben Bird-Tulloch opened the scoring with a brace of tries within a matter of minutes of one other, both on beautiful counter-attacks.

Tom Collins made it three for the Trailfinders in his first score of the game, executing a perfectly weighted chip-and-chase, which he finished himself.

Tobi Wilson secured the bonus point before the 20-minute mark with his first try, gliding over the whitewash untouched.

Jordy Reid scored next for Trailfinders, diving over from the back of a powerful rolling maul, which became a running theme throughout the game.

Collins followed it scoring his second as he finished off a lovely counter-attack once again as Ampthill were struggling to deal with the attacking flair.

The hosts had one more on the cusp of the break, with Willemse over at the back of another driving maul.

Half-Time Score- Ealing Trailfinders 45-0 Ampthill

The second period opened with yet another flurry of tries, with Trailfinders scoring three within five minutes

Collins started it by making an acrobatic finish to take Trailfinders to 50 points, and Montgomery saw that and thought he could do one better with the number eight scoring an outrageous superman finish of his own in the corner.

Collins secured his hat trick after putting a perfect grubber through which he gathered and scored.

Play slowed down for a period, which allowed fans to catch their breath, but picked right back up when Rayn Smid went over at the back of yet another driving maul for the hosts.

Kernohan followed it with a finish from yet another graceful counter-attacking score.

There were two more tries for the Trailfinders before the full-time whistle.

Cornish got in on the action at the back of, you guessed it, a rolling maul and Francis Moore scored our last after a grubber and chase, which he collected himself, and that was the final whistle.

On the event of Craig Hampson’s 100th appearance for the club, the squad put in an outstanding performance as they make the charge towards the top of the league.

Full-Time Score- Ealing Trailfinders 92-0 Ampthill

Ealing Trailfinders-

Tries: Bird-Tulloch 6, 9, Collins 12, 34, 47 Wilson 17, 42, Reid 25, Willemse 39, Montgomery 45, Smid 62, Kernohan 69, Cornish 75, Moore 76

Conversions: Jones 7, 18, 26, 35, 40, 46, 47; Willis 62, 70, 76, 77

Ampthill-

Yellow Cards: Ijeh 1,

Nottingham vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders took all five points away from The Bay this weekend, beating Nottingham 36-21 away from home to go top of the Championship table overnight.

A brace from Tom Collins, along with tries from Craig Willis, Jordan Holgate, Will Montgomery and David Douglas Bridge, gave Trailfinders their third win in four games to start the season.

The result leaves them top of the table overnight, going into round five when they will host Ampthill at home.

Many would have forgiven the players at The Bay tonight for a cagey affair due to Nottingham’s damp and brisk conditions, yet neither side seemed to kneel to the atmospheric conditions.

The ball was flying around from minute one. The Archers were insistent on playing expansively and chipped and chased in behind within the first five minutes. They regathered and broke, and although Trailfinders recovered to force a knock-on, Notts had set the tone. 

The visitors countered with a first attack of their own. Willis threw a dummy and sliced through the Nottingham line, beating the full-back to score Trailfinders’ opener.

The West Londoners then smelt blood and piled on the pressure. They entered The Archers’ 22 again, sucking in their defence with an organised set of pick and gos, and Craig Hampson found Holgate in space to dive over the whitewash.

Trailfinders kept the scoreboard ticking over soon after. Reuben Bird-Tulloch ran an exceptional line off a Simon Uzokwe carry, and the flanker fed him straight through a hole in the Nottingham Defence. 

After a rapid phase, Trailfinders found the width down the left, and Collins went over for his first to cap off a brilliant team try.

The hosts finally replied with a score of their own, following sustained possession in the Trailfinders red zone. Charlie Myall went through untouched after linking up with his centre partner to get Nottingham back in it.

Will Montgomery sealed the try bonus with the first half’s final play. Holgate broke down the right wing and put Montgomery through to sprint over from 30m out.

Half-Time: 7-24 

The second half was less frantic than the second, with both sides electing to kick more of the ball than during the first term. 

The scoring trends continued, however, and Douglas Bridge crashed over from short range to get Trailfinders going in the second half.

Collins then scored his second soon after. An absolute ripper down the left. The winger sprinted down the line, hit a grubber behind his opposite number and latched onto the end of the kick to score an early try-of-the-year contender.

That would cap off the Trailfinders’ scoring for the evening, and Nottingham scored two tries in the last 10 minutes in a last-gasp attempt to earn a point. 

They failed, however, and Trailfinders sealed an impressive bounce-back victory, leaving them on top of the Championship table.

Full-Time: 21-36

Tries

Nottingham: 

Myall (29), Dickinson (63), Williams (79)

Ealing Trailfinders:

Willis (8), Holgate (17), Collins (24, 57), Montgomery (39), Douglas Bridge (51)

Conversions

Nottingham: 

Matt Arden (29, 63, 79)

Ealing Trailfinders:

Willis (8, 17, 51) 

Ealing Trailfinders vs Doncaster Knights

Ealing Trailfinders face their first defeat of this year’s Championship season in a one-point loss to Doncaster Knights at home.

 

Tries from Rayn Smid, Jordan Holgate, Francis Moore and Matt Cornish, as well as 15 points from the boot of Dan Jones, just weren’t enough to clinch the win.

 

It was a breathless start to the game, with both sides getting tries on the board within the opening five minutes. 

 

The visitors struck first as back-row Rhys Tait broke through a weak tackle and dove over for the opening score. 

 

Trailfinders responded immediately through a try of their own courtesy of captain Rayn Smid.

 

Doncaster were clearly keen to build a score, taking the opportunity to take the three points with Alex Dolly slotting the after winning a scrum penalty and again a few minutes later.

 

It was a tale of ill-discipline for both sides in the first half for both sides as Doncaster allowed Trailfinders multiple entries into the 22, the first of which led to an easy walk in for Jordan Holgate.

 

It was a try fest as Doncaster responded immediately through fullback Jordan Olowofela, who made a clean break and got his first.

 

Trailfinders earned a scrum penalty on the halfway line, and instead of kicking deep, Jones caught the Doncaster defence unaware with the quick tap, opening up space for Francis Moore to score.

 

After another three points from Dolly, Trailfinders got another try from a Matt Cornish classic off the back of a rolling maul.

 

As if that wasn’t enough for one half of rugby Olowofela scored just before the half-time whistle from a kick in behind to take his side two points up at the break.

 

Half-Time- Ealing Trailfinders 26-28 Doncaster Knights

 

After the seven tries of the opening 40, both sides came out for the second period with a much more conservative game plan.

 

Dan Jones and Dolly traded penalty kicks to keep edging the scoreboard in their side’s favour until Olowofela made another clean break to score his third and complete the hat-trick.

 

Just a point behind and ten minutes left on the clock, Trailfinders threw everything at it, with possession right on the try line in the final play.

 

However, a heartbreaking knock-on meant Tom Foley blew his whistle, and Trailfinders fell short by one point and concede our first loss of the season.

 

Full-Time- Ealing Trailfinders 35-36 Doncaster Knights

 

Ealing Trailfinders:

Tries- Smid 3, Holgate 20, Moore 27, Cornish 38

Penalties- Jones 43, 61, 66

Conversions- Jones 4, 21, 28

 

Doncaster Knights:

Tries- Tait 2, Olowofela 22, 40, 71

Penalties- Dolly 8, 14, 58

Conversions- Dolly 3, 23, 35

Cornish Pirates vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders left it late to win 24-29 under the lights against Cornish Pirates in Round Two of the Championship.

Tries from Tom Collins, Matt Cornish, Tobi Wilson and Rob Farrar meant Trailfinders secured a bonus point victory in Penzance.

The Londoners sit at the top of the table after Friday evening’s result, collecting ten points from a possible ten so far this campaign.

As the sides ran out from the changing rooms, there was a great atmosphere around The Mennaye Field, with last season’s top two set to go head-to-head.

Unsurprisingly, it was a cagey opening 15 minutes with both sides looking for field position early on. It was Will Trewin who looked most likely to score just after this period; the Cornish Pirates fullback thought he was in, but Angus Kernohan, helped by Rayn Smid, forced Trewin into touch.

Bruce Houston finally broke the deadlock for the hosts with a well-struck three-pointer before Dan Jones cancelled it out with three of his own at the other end.

With just five minutes to go before the break, Trailfinders finally started to build some pressure. A penalty at scrum time gave Jones the opportunity to kick to the corner. The ball was spread wide, and a looping pass over to the left wing meant Tom Collins could go over untouched.

However, Cornish Pirates weren’t ready for the half-time whistle just yet. They levelled the scores with their first try of the match. Arthur Relton broke away down the centre of the field, Trailfinders covered well initially, but it wasn’t enough as Robin Wedlake scored on the left wing.

Half-time- Cornish Pirates 10-10 Ealing Trailfinders

The visitors came firing out of the blocks in the second forty. Last season’s top try scorer, Matt Cornish, scored his first of the 2024-25 campaign, burrowing his way over from five meters out just minutes after the break.

Moments later, Cornish Pirates put a teasing kick over the top, which left Craig Hampson chasing back into the deadball area. He could only get his fingertips to the bouncing ball, and the referee deemed it was deliberately knocked out of play. He awarded a penalty try and sent Hampson for ten minutes on the touchline.

Down to 14 men, and with the scores now level, Trailfinders knew they needed to raise their game, and they did just that. Collins was doing a good job temporarily filling in at scrum-half, he managed to find Jones, who put Tobi Wilson through a hole to restore the West-Londoners lead to seven points.

As we headed into the final ten minutes, it was a sustained period of pressure for Cornish Pirates. With the crowd behind them, they found a way through. Iwan Price-Thomas slid across the whitewash, and Iwan Jenkins tied the scores from the boot, which made it 24 apiece.

It was a tense final few minutes at The Mennaye. Cornish Pirates cleared the ball upfield from a box-kick, and Collins superbly kept it in play. Trailfiinders moved the ball from one touchline back to the other, which opened up space on the right-hand side. Collins beat his man for pace and found Rob Farrar out on the wing; he ran in from the 22, bumped off the covering defence, and dived over in the corner.

The stands fell silent other than an eruption of noise from the visitors’ bench. With the clock in red, Farrar had scored the match-winning and bonus point try. Trailfinders take all five points back to West London.

 Full-time- Cornish Pirates 24-29 Ealing Trailfinders

 

Cornish Pirates:

Tries- Wedlake 40, Penalty Try 47, Price-Thomas 75

Conversions- Houston 40, Jenkins 76

Penalties- Houston 17

Ealing Trailfinders:

Tries- Collins 32, Cornish 44, Wilson 52, Farrar 80

Conversions- Jones 33, 45, 53

Penalties- Jones 25

Yellow Cards- Hampson 47, Kernohan 55

 

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