Simon UZOKWE (7) of Ealing Trailfinders (centre) scores the opening try during the Greene King IPA Championship match between Ealing Trailfinders and Ampthill RUFC at Castle Bar , West Ealing , England on 4 December 2021. Photo by David Horn.Ealing Trailfinders returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon as they ran out 54-17 victors at Vallis Way.

The West Londoners went into the game looking to bounce back from a Round 9 defeat last time out at Doncaster, and they exploded back to victory at Trailfinders Sports Club.

It was the visitors who got the scoreboard ticking first after winning a penalty just inside the Ealing Trailfinders half, with Bennett knocking over the kick to get Ampthill off the mark.

Just under a quarter of the way through the game, Trailfinders were firing when a strong scrum from the pack saw the ball fed back to Simon Uzokwe, who powered through his tacklers to dot down for Trailfinders first try of the game, Craig Willis adding the extras with the boot.

Moments later, Ealing Trailfinders would go on to extend their lead when some quick hands from the home sides backs put Luke Daniels away on the wing as he found space to race away to dot down.

Ben Ward’s men were up and running, with Ampthill looking shellshocked by the quick double hit just two minutes apart.

Next up was a chance for always in form Centre Max Bodilly to get in on the action; a line out from Jan-Henning Campher worked along the backs to allow Bodilly to break through the line scoring his sides third try of the game.

The bonus point was wrapped up and in the bag before the half an hour mark, when Craig Willis found Max Northcote-Green on the wing in space with the back-row racing along the line to score his first Championship Rugby try of the season.

With Trailfinders running away with proceedings, Ampthill were once again penalised for an illegal tackle on Uzokwe, as tempers flared up a composed Willis would kick to the corner once again, this time for starting debutant Len Massyn to score his first try for the club.

There was still time for more in the first half, and a tough Ampthill defence was once again broken by Bodilly, who, after an impressive line break from Campher, was fed the ball to dot down for his second of the game.

Half-Time Ealing Trailfinders 40 – Amphill RUFC 3

After a chance for a breather and a quick team talk, both teams returned to the field of play with Ampthill looking to stop the bleeding in a game in which the result looked to be beyond doubt.

The visitors came out fighting however and got their first try of the game when a clever grubber in behind Ealing’s defence saw the ball recovered and them bundling the ball down under the Trailfinders posts just five minutes into the second period.

Trailfinders would soon hit back once again, though when just 5 minutes later, a line break by Max Northcote-Green got the home side just metres from the line, the ball worked out wide to Cian Kelleher to dot down for his first Ealing Trailfinders Championship try.

In what was a polar opposite half to the first half, Ampthill once again struck back with a break off the driving maul allowing the visitors to dot down for the second time.

In what was becoming an end to end the second period, and with just minutes left in the game, Kelleher was put in to score once again. Luke Daniels being found in space on the wing, feeding the ball back to the Irishman to seal an impressive 54-17 victory for the men in green and white.

Full-Time Ealing Trailfinders 54 – Ampthill RUFC 17

The West Londoners headed into Round 8 top of the table, with Harvey Biljon’s men alongside Cornish Pirates snapping at the heels of Ben Ward’s side. The Championship Rugby season has seen a lot of close encounters over the opening rounds, and this was to be no different with two of the league’s most in-form sides going head-to-head at Trailfinders Sports Club.

It was Jersey who started the more vigorous, and with a sustained period of attack within Trailfinders 22, Sam Leeming decided to go for the posts, putting the first points on the board for the visitors.

Moments later, Trailfinders found space in behind Jersey’s backline and got within the 22; several drives from the West Londoners forwards saw Craig Hampson shift the ball back to Steven Shingler, who muscled his way over the line to dot down for the home sides first try of the afternoon, converting his own score.

In what was a hard-fought opening quarter of the game, Jersey quickly hit back again. Hard-hitting carries got the visitors within Trailfinders 22, the ball being knocked into touch as the islanders looked to drive the ball home from the line out. The subsequent line out was halted by Ben Ward’s men however, a darting run inside by Jersey Reds Captain Lewis Wynne saw him power through a gap in the Trailfinders defence, to score Jersey’s first try of the game and regain their lead.

Five minutes later the visitors extended their lead with multiple phases inside Trailfinders 22. This led to Steve Longwell eventually powering his way through the Ealing defence as the Reds led 7-15 mid-way through the first half.

Biljon’s men sure didn’t head to West London looking for anything but an upset at the league leaders’ home to end their unbeaten run at Vallis Way.

This would be a tough day at the office. Still, one that Trailfinders were more than up for, with just minutes left in the first half, a clever knock through from the boot of Shingler got Trailfinders within the 22, a knocked-on ball was then swooped up by Luke Daniels, to race along the wing and dot down to bring the game within a point going into the break.

Half-Time Ealing Trailfinders 14 – Jersey Reds 15

The second half started with the same intensity as the first half, with both sides going to war once again.

This time it was Trailfinders who would strike first when a bright start to the half when they were rewarded with a penalty just inside Jersey’s half. Shingler was once again good with the boot kicked to the corner and the resulting line out from Shaun Malton was finished off at the back of the rolling maul by the Hooker who dotted down to put Ealing in the lead once again in the top of the table clash, with Shingler adding the extras.

However, in what was becoming an end-to-end affair, Jersey quickly hit back once again just a matter of minutes later when a dominant lineout drive from the visiting side saw the referee award a penalty try putting the Reds back in front with 25 minutes to go, Malton subsequently being sent to the sin bin.

The game was on a knife-edge, with both sides going into every collision with more and more intensity as the clash went on. It was going to be fine margins that would split these two sides, and when Simon Uzokwe read the Jersey attack intercepting the ball at the half-way line, he raced away to dot down in what proved a real momentum swinger, with the visitors looking to get a real foothold on the game.

In what proved to be a real swing in the game, and with 10 minutes left on the clock, Ben Ward’s men were able to extend their lead to over a score. Quick thinking from Trailfinders Scrum-Half Craig Hampson saw him show and go, darting inside to score what would prove to be the decisive try.

Shingler was once again successful with the boot, putting Trailfinders 13 points to the good going into the closing minutes of the game.

It wasn’t to be an easy final moment of the game for the men of Vallis Way though when with just two minutes left on the clock, a penalty won within Trailfinders half saw Jersey’s pack go through the motions and power home to put some final moments of pressure on what had been a tight top of the table affair.

The try proved too little too late however and a close-fought win for the West Londoners saw them hold on tightly to their top of the table status with Harvey Biljon’s men leaving Vallis Way with a hard-fought bonus point.

Full-Time Ealing Trailfinders 35 – Jersey Reds 29

By Ryan Fitzgerald-Nolan

Ealing Trailfinders fastened their grip on first place in the Championship with another double-figure try return, with Matt Williams’ London Scottish falling to a 101-7 loss at Trailfinders Sports Club.

On a fine afternoon in West London, Trailfinders touched down 15 times for their biggest win of the season so far.

Despite the score, there were large portions of the first half where Scottish held their own and posed the question of scoring a try with prolonged periods in Trailfinders’ territory.

Nevertheless, the try bonus point was secured in the first half, with Jan-Henning Campher scoring a brace and Charlie Walker, Matt Gordon, Rayn Smid running in their own alongside a penalty try.

Campher completed his hat trick soon after the interval with an additional eight tries in the final fourty, including a Tadgh McElroy hat-trick, in what can only be best described as a forceful second half performance.

Trailfinders were put under immediate threat with the visitors winning several penalties, with Scottish firmly situated in the opposing ’22 in the opening stages.

Good work at the breakdown by Ben Ward’s side won back possession and relieved such pressure, with the breakthrough following soon after.

Craig Hampson and Charlie Walker revived their famous linkup to put the hosts in front, the scrum-half opting for a quick tap-and-go whilst shadowed by Walker to the try line to touch down.

A knock-on from Simon Uzokwe just short of the line denied the boys in Green and White their second of the afternoon, following some swift hands in the build up play.

This time it was Hampson who was denied so close to the whitewash, employing typical quick thinking and spotting a gap tin the Scottish back line to dot over from the ruck, only to fumble the ball.

A matter of minutes after Scottish re-entered Trailfinders territory following a risky kick and chase from a loose ball by Reuben Bird-Tulloch, the hosts were over again with half hour gone.

Steven Shingler kicked for touch with the following rolling maul involving all but two Trailfinders, as hooker Jan-Henning Campher dotted down with Shingler adding his second conversion of the afternoon.

In a half that was fraught with loose hands from Trailfinders, their industry on the ground won back possession several times and led to the third try.

Shingler once again opted for the corner the lengthen the distance between the sides, but it was the Exiles’ own ill-discipline that was adjudged to be preventing a score with a penalty try awarded.

Former Scot Matt Gordon that bagged his side’s try bonus point with his side just warming up in one of the final action of the first half, in his first start of the season.

Captain Rayn Smid peeled off the base of the scrum to offload to the centre, dashing from the halfway line to cross over with Shingler adding more extras.

It was indeed Trailfinders’ leading man in Smid to inflict more damage on the scoreboard next, receiving a smart offload from fellow countryman Bobby de Wee to cross the whitewash.

Shingler’s sumptuous kick from halfway found touch at the five metre line for Campher to grab his brace after yet another dominant rolling maul, with the Welshman’s conversion concluding proceedings for the first period.

HT- Ealing Trailfinders 42-0 London Scottish

Scottish acquiesced early possession of the ball and Trailfinders kicked for touch again, with Campher securing his hat trick three minutes into the second period but was replaced by debutant Tadgh McElroy soon after.

Exile Noah Ferdinand registered his side’s first return, touching down in the corner with Hayden Hyde assisting with a neat one-handed offload.

But it was replacement Jordan Burns who retorted by sniping through a break in the Scottish defence off the ruck, racing away uncontested to dot down with fellow half-back substitute Craig Willis adding the conversion.

Uzokwe’s work ethic in the ruck, alongside backchat from Scottish’s Rory Hughes, enabled Willis to kick for the corner with another double-figured maul attempting to crash over.

After several recycled phases with the ball, McElroy assumed the scoring nous of his hooker counterpart to touch down for his maiden five points as a Trailfinder.

It was rinse and repeat for Ward’s men with McElroy touching down for his brace off the back of another rolling maul- the fifth try for the matchup for a hooker.

Trailfinders mercenary attitude did not let up for a second- scoring from their first possession from the kick off with Gordon racing away on the left flank, working it inside initially to Burns and then again to Walker to score.

Scottish squandered what looked to be their final chance of reaching a double-figure score when a threatening maul was knocked on.

Luke Daniels capped off a positive first start of the season to take the Trailfinders total beyond 80 points with less than five minutes to go, the fluid attacking move spawning from Willis’ quick turn in midfield.

James Cordy-Redden moved the ball to Jack Digby for the latter’s first try in Green and White, with Reuben Bird-Tulloch drawing his side closer to 100 points with a try of his own.

Simon Uzokwe’s monster tackle directly forced a turnover in the Exiles’ ’22, with Gordon collecting and distributing to the ever-determined youngster to power home.

With the Vallis Way crowd desperate to see 100 points, it looked as though Digby was the man to take them into touching distance but for his intercepted pass on the breakaway.

A penalty won soon after awarded a final opportunity for the home crowd, as McElroy scored his own hat trick try from a rolling maul.

With bated breath, the Damian Bugeja Stand went into raptures with Willis’ conversion taking the haul past 100- another successful afternoon at Trailfinders Sports Club, to say the least.

FT- Ealing Trailfinders 101-7 London Scottish

Ealing Trailfinders:

15. David Johnston (replaced by James Cordy-Redden, 73 minutes), 14. Charlie Walker, 13. Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 12. Matt Gordon, 11. Luke Daniels, 10. Steve Shingler (replaced by Craig Willis, 40 minutes), 9. Craig Hampson (replaced by Jordan Burns, 40 minutes); 1. Dylan Smith (replaced by Will Davis, 63 minutes), 2. Jan-Henning Campher (replaced by Tadgh McElroy, 45 minutes), 3. Lewis Thiede (replaced by Kyle Whyte, 63 minutes), 4. Bobby de Wee, 5. Harry Casson (replaced by Simon Linsell, 18 minutes), 6. Jack Digby, 7. Simon Uzokwe, 8. Rayn Smid (C)

Replacements:

16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Will Davis, 18. Kyle Whyte, 19. Simon Linsell, 20. Malon al-Jiboori, 21. Craig Willis, 22. Jordan Burns, 23. James Cordy-Redden

Tries: Charlie Walker (2), Jan-Henning Campher (3), Penalty Try, Matt Gordon, Rayn Smid, Jordan Burns, Tadgh McElroy (3), Luke Daniels, Jack Digby, Reuben Bird-Tulloch

Conversions: Steven Shingler (6), Craig Willis (7)

London Scottish:

15. Rory Hughes, 14. Noah Ferdinand, 13. Hayden Hyde, 12. Sam Hanks, 11. Dalton Grant, 10. Laurence May, 9. Dan Nutton; 1. Jake Ellwood, 2. Nick Selway (c), 3. Joe Rees, 4. Tom Baldwin (vc), 5. Matas Jurevicius, 6. Morgan Dawes, 7. Jack Ingall, 8. Cameron King

Replacements:

16. Will Routledge, 17. Maurice Nwakor, 18. Alex Gibson, 19. Ehize Ehizode, 20. Brian Tuilagi, 21. Ed Hoadley, 22. Javiah Pohe, 23. Aaron Purewal

Tries: Noah Ferdinand

Conversions: Laurence May

Yellow Cards: Dalton Grant

By Ryan Fitzgerald-Nolan

Ealing Trailfinders got their Championship campaign back on track on Saturday afternoon, with a 12-try win over Craig Hammond’s Nottingham Rugby at Trailfinders Sports Club, finishing 78-19.

Ben Ward’s side responded well following a narrow 15-12 away loss to Cornish Pirates last time out, touching down six times in each half of the convincing win.

Simon Uzokwe, Rayn Smid, Pat Howard, Shaun Malton, Charlie Walker, Craig Hampson and eight points from the boot of man of the match Steven Shingler, gave the boys in Green and White a 24-point lead at the break.

Smid and Walker both completed their braces in the second forty minutes, alongside tries from Jan-Henning Campher and Reuben Bird-Tulloch, as Jordan Burns also touched down twice in the space of two minutes to conclude proceedings.

Trailfinders set an early precedent with consecutive dominant scrums, the second of which the pack were able to win possession of the ball just inside the visitors ‘22.

Scrum-half Craig Hampson raced away and offloaded to Simon Uzokwe, evading tackles to touch down, with Steven Shingler adding the extras.

Uzokwe turned provider for captain Rayn Smid to dot down under the posts to finish a rapid breakaway by the boys in Green and White, the latter stealing a Nottingham lineout to begin the counter.

With Trailfinders 14 points to the good, the Archers knew they had to start edging their way into the game, and did so with a swift reply.

Archie Vanes scored following a rolling maul to pull his side back into the affair, with Dan Lancaster adding a conversion but missing a rangey penalty from halfway minutes later.

A concerning rise in the penalty count afforded Nottingham a chance to once again kick for the corner, but once again a lineout was well intercepted by Smid to give some relief to his side.

Pat Howard restored some parity between the sides after picking up from the base of the ruck just short of the whitewash to score in the corner, as Shingler was unable to convert from the touchline.

Elliott Creed was sent to the bin in an attempt to stop yet another fast, fluid move originating from Trailfinders’ own half, where Shaun Malton consequentially scored.

Trailfinders captain Smid soon joined Creed for a brief spell on the sidelines, as Craig Hammond’s side were awarded a penalty try.

Nimble feet from Hammond found the scrum-half some space to run into, who passed to Charlie Walker infield to score under the posts.

The deadly linkup between the aforementioned pair punished the Archers for Trailfinders’ sixth and final score of the half, this time with the number nine dotting down for his first five points of the game.

HT- Ealing Trailfinders 38-14 Nottingham

Having been held up on the line in the opening attacking phases of the half, Trailfinders maintained their pressure towards the try line as head injury replacement Jan-Henning Campher crossed and scored from a brutish advancing maul.

Hampson and Walker resumed their collaborative efforts in the second half as the former assisted the latter, with Shingler converting Walker’s effort to take their side’s total to 50.

An unfortunate knock-on from Walker denied the winger a hattrick and David Johnston an assist on his 50th appearance after some terrific movement with the ball.

Trailfinders did nonetheless win the resulting scrum and after several phases, Smid crossed the whitewash for his second with Shingler adding an impressive converted kick.

Summer signing Reuben Bird-Tulloch was next to pile on the pressure in the final phase of more fantastic attacking rugby, his first try for the club as Shingler once again split the posts from a testing angle.

Good work at the breakdown denied Nottingham what looked to almost certainly be their third score of the afternoon just shy of the try line, keeping the deficit at a resounding 50 points.

Quick thinking from replacement Jordan Burns saw the scrum-half bag a brace with two pickups from the ruck to dart over each time, as Trailfinders’ final substitution Craig Willis registered his first four points from the boot.

Tim Hoyt went over in the final few minutes of the game to restore some pride in his team’s performance, with decent footballing from both Harry Graham and Morgan Bunting nearly securing a try bonus point but for the ball to make its way into touch.

FT Ealing Trailfinders 78-19 Nottingham

Ealing Trailfinders:

15. David Johnston, 14. Charlie Walker, 13. Max Bodilly, 12. Pat Howard (replaced by Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 54 minutes), 11. Angus Kernohan, 10. Steven Shingler (replaced by Craig Willis, 73 minutes), 9. Craig Hampson (replaced by Jordan Burns, 54 minutes); 1. James Gibbons (replaced by Dylan Smith, 56 minutes), 2. Shaun Malton (replaced by Jan-Henning Campher, 43 minutes), 3. Lewis Thiede (replaced by Kyle Whyte, 56 minutes), 4. Simon Linsell (replaced by Bobby de Wee, 51 minutes), 5. James Cannon, 6. Jack Digby, 7. Simon Uzokwe (replaced by Malon al-Jiboori, 64 minutes), 8. Rayn Smid (C)

Replacements:

16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Kyle Whyte, 19. Bobby de Wee, 20. Malon al-Jiboori, 21. Jordan Burns, 22. Craig Willis, 23. Reuben Bird-Tulloch

Tries: Simon Uzokwe, Rayn Smid (2), Pat Howard, Shaun Malton, Charlie Walker (2), Craig Hampson, Jan-Henning Campher, Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Jordan Burns (2)

Conversions: Steven Shingler (7), Craig Willis (2)

Yellow Cards: Rayn Smid

Nottingham Rugby:

15. Luke Hibberd, 14. Harry Graham, 13. Elliott Creed (replaced by Morgan Bunting), 12. Jacob Cusick (replaced by James Peachey), 11. Joe Browning, 10. Dan Lancaster, 9. Sam Edwards (replaced by Matt March); 1. Toby Williams (replaced by James Whitcombe), 2. Archie Vanes (replaced by Storm Hanekom), 3. Josh McNulty (replaced by Tim Hoyt), 4. Jack Ramshaw, 5. Scott Hall (replaced by Callum Allen), 6. Carl Kirwan (replaced by Jacob Wright), 7. Lewis Barrett, 8. Josh Poullet (C)

Replacements:

16. Storm Hanekom, 17. Tim Hoyt, 18. James Whitcombe, 19. Callum Allen, 20. Jacob Wright, 21. Matt March, 22. Morgan Bunting, 23. James Peachey

Tries: Archie Vanes, Penalty Try, Tim Hoyt

Conversions: Dan Lancaster (2)

Yellow Cards: Elliott Creed