Ealing Trailfinders completed a dramatic second half comeback to secure a crucial 22-14 victory over Harptury at Trailfinders Sports Club.

The West Londoners overturned a 14-0 deficit with half an hour remaining to secure a seventh consecutive victory thanks to tries from Sam Dickinson, Rayn Smid and a penalty try.

In a first half littered with errors the Trailfinders were met by a resilent Hartpury defence who were frustrating the hosts.

Ben Ward’s side started promisingly and Harry Sloan carried from close range as he looked to go over for the first try but he was hit back and after going through a number of phases the visitors got a penalty.

The Trailfinders continued to enjoy most of the territory but failed to turn that in to points. They again went close when Rayn Smid got over the gain line and looked to offload to Peter Lydon but the pass went forward.

Hartpury then took the lead against the run of play as Ben Vellacott opened the scoring. A five metre scrum gave them the ideal attacking position, and the scrum half dummied from the base to dive over the line. Tiff Eden converted to give the visitors a seven point advantage.

Then came a crucial moment before the break as a sequence of five consecutive penalties from the scrum right on the Hartpury line looked to get the Trailfinders back on level terms, however after a five minute spell ended up with the visitors getting a penalty and they were able to clear to the anger of the home supporters.

The Green and Whites continued to hammer away at the Hartpury line but they ran out of time and went down the tunnel at half time trailing by seven points.

The Trailfinders began the second half with similar intensity but it was Hartpury who extended their lead to go further ahead. They went through the phases right up to the line, and then Vellacott dummied again from just a metre out to score. Eden added the extras as the advantage went up to 14 points.

The bench then came on for the hosts and made an instant impact as Matt Cornish made a break down the wing to take the Trailfinders up to the line. A penalty was then awarded and from the maul Sam Dickinson bundled over to get them back in to the match.

Seb Stegmann then had a chance down the wing as a turnover ball saw the defence open up but in admirable fashion the Hartpury defence rushed back to drag him in to touch.

The Trailfinders scored their second on the hour mark as the comeback took another step forward. In identical style a five metre lineout was mauled to the line, and this time it was brought down which forced referee Sara Cox to award a penalty try and cut the deficit to two points.

Rayn Smid completed the comeback with just 10 minutes left to send the home supporters in to raptures. The hosts had a five metre scrum and the captain powered over from five metres out to put his side in front. Lydon added the extras, giving the Green and Whites a five point advantage.

Peter Lydon then sealed the victory with a monstrous 50 metre penalty as the clock ticked away, putting the Trailfinders 22-14 ahead.

Ward’s men closed out the final seconds and smashed the ball in to the stands to celebrate a vital victory as they maintained their tital challenge.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon 14 Howard Packman 13 David Johnston 12 Harry Sloan 11 Seb Stegmann 10 Laurence May 9 Jordan Burns (replaced by Ryan Foley, 50 mins) 1 Jordan Els 2 Alun Walker (replaced by Matt Cornish, 50 mins) 3 Elliot Millar Mills (replaced by Mark Tampin, 55 mins) 4 Jordan Onojaife 5 Harry Casson 6 Sam Dickinson 7 Andrew Durutalo 8 Rayn Smid ©

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish 17 Matt Beesley 18 Mark Tampin 19 Max Davies 20 George Edgson 21 Ryan Foley 22 Lewis Jones

Scorers:

Tries: Sam Dickinson (53 minutes) Penalty Try (60 minutes) Rayn Smid (68 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (68 minutes)

Penalties: Peter Lydon (77 minutes)

Hartpury:

15. Mike Wilcox 14. Ben Foley 13. Tom Seabrook 12. Jack Tovey 11. Jake Henry 10. Tiff Eden 9. Ben Vellacott 1. Des Merrey 2. Will Tanner 3. Rupert Harden 4. Alex Craig 5. Simon Linsell (c) 6. Akapusi Qera 7. Lewis Ludlow 8. Sam Graham

Replacements:

16. Luke Stratford 17. Dan Murphy 18. Joe Morris 19. James Scott 20. Tom Dodd 21. Harry Cochrane 22. Luke Eves

Scorers:

Tries: Ben Vellacott (24, 50 minutes)

Conversions: Tiff Eden (24, 50 minutes)

Penalties:

Yellow Cards: Des Merrey, Lewis Ludlow

Match Officials:

Referee: Sara Cox

Assistant Referees: Simon Harding & Peter Brunt

Fourth Official: Calum Howard

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 0 – 7 Hartpury

Attendance: 707

Harrison’s Vintners & Delicatessen Man of the Match: Andrew Durutalo

Ealing Trailfinders produced a superb late comeback to secure a dramatic 33-24 bonus-point victory over Doncaster Knights at Trailfinders Sports Club.

Ben Ward’s men trailed at the break and the visitors were still in front as we entered the final 10 minutes but late tries from Matt Cornish and Rayn Smid gave the Trailfinders a crucial win over the in-form Knights.

The hosts started in emphatic fashion and went in front after just seven minutes with a try from Kieran Murphy. A penalty was kicked to the corner and after the maul was brought down the ball was spread wide, allowing the back-rower to step his way to the line. Peter Lydon added the conversion to give his side a 7-0 advantage.

Another chance followed quickly as Lydon broke through the middle and had Will Harries alongside on the right wing, but the looping pass went in to touch and Doncaster got the lineout.

The Trailfinders wasted no time to score try number two, and crossed before the 20 minute mark to take control of the match. The Knights were going through the phases in the 22 but James Cordy Redden intercepted a pass and ran 80 metres to score in the corner. Lydon’s excellent conversion extended the lead to 14 points.

However that sparked Doncaster in to life and they responded with three tries before half time to take the lead.

A rolling maul powered towards the line which allowed Mike Mayhew to bundle over, and Kurt Morath’s conversion cut the gap to seven points.

Their second try came five minutes before half time as another maul from close range allowed Rory Pitman to score, and with the last play of the first half they went in front.

They had all the momentum and Tom James snuck over right under the posts to give them a clinical lead. Morath added a third conversion as they went down the tunnel 21-14 ahead.

The Trailfinders needed a big response in the second half and they pulled themselves level on the 50 minute mark as Kieran Murphy crossed for his second try. A penalty was kicked just short of the line and gave the hosts the platform to score, which allowed them to spread the ball wide to Murphy who dummied past the final defender. Lydon’s third conversion made it 21-21 with an intriguing half an hour ahead.

Both sides then looked to make their mark in the final quarter, and it was Doncaster who would go ahead with a penalty from Kurt Morath. Curtis Wilson was brought down just short but the referee went back for an earlier infringement, which allowed the fly-half to put his team ahead with 15 minutes remaining.

The West Londoners responded in impressive style to go in front straight from the re-start. They gathered the ball and then went wide straight away with Peter Lydon and Rayn Smid combining to go up to the line, and quick ball hit Matt Cornish on a great angle to smash his way over the line. Lydon’s conversion put the hosts four points ahead.

Rayn Smid then sealed the victory with five minutes left to ensure a huge sigh of relief around the ground. After a number of phases deep in the 22 the captain was there to power over from close range for try number five, extending the advantage to 33-24.

The hosts closed out the final two minutes and smashed the ball in to the stands, confirming a hard-fought victory to maintain their place in the top-two of the Greene King IPA Championship.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon 14 Will Harries 13 Lewis Jones (replaced by Segundo Tuculet, 30 mins) 12 Harry Sloan 11 James Cordy Redden 10 Laurence May 9 Jordan Burns 1 Alex Lundberg (replaced by Jack O’Connell, 70 mins) 2 Matt Cornish 3 Mark Tampin (replaced by Elliot Millar Mills, 60 mins) 4 Rayn Smid (replaced by George Edgson, 75 mins) 5 Harry Casson (replaced by Alun Walker, 79 mins) 6 Rohan O’Regan 7 Jordy Reid 8 Kieran Murphy

Replacements:

16 Alun Walker 17 Jack O’Connell 18 Elliot Millar Mills 19 George Edgson 20 Segundo Tuculet 21 Ryan Foley 22 Craig Willis

Scorers:

Tries: Kieran Murphy (7, 50 minutes) James Cordy Redden (18 minutes) Matt Cornish (68 minutes) Rayn Smid (76 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (7, 18, 50, 68 minutes)

Doncaster Knights:

15 Cameron Cowell 14 Curtis Wilson 13 Elliott Creed 12 Lloyd Hayes 11 Tyson Lewis 10 Kurt Morath 9 Tom James 1 Robin Hislop 2 Mike Mayhew 3 Joe Sproston 4 Matt Challinor 5 Josh Tyrell 6 Ollie Stedman 7 Tom Calladine 8 Rory Pitman

Replacements:

16 James Malcolm 17 Richard List 18 Matt Talaese 19 Lasha Lomidze 20 Sam Jones 21 Henry Seniloli 22 Charlie Foley

Scorers:

Tries: Mike Mayhew (23 minutes) Rory Pitman (36 minutes) Tom James (40 minutes)

Conversions: Kurt Morath (23, 36, 40 minutes)

Penalties: Kurt Morath (66 minutes)

Match Officials:

Referee: Karl Dickson

Assistant Referees: Nick Marshall & Philip Watters

Fourth Official: George Richardson

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 14 – 21 Doncaster Knights

Attendance: 685

Harrison’s Vintners & Delicatessen Man of the Match: Kieran Murphy

Ealing Trailfinders got back to winning ways after a five-try victory over London Scottish at Trailfinders Sports Club.

The hosts had to overturn a half time deficit but rallied strongly in the second half to ensure that they got their first win of the year courtesy of tries from James Cordy Redden, Rayn Smid, Matt Cornish and a double from Alun Walker.

The Trailfinders made an impressive start and played with real tempo in the opening stages as they looked to stamp their authority on the match. Harry Sloan broke through the middle and was brought down just short, but from the resulting penalty the ball was kicked to the corner and allowed Alun Walker to drive over the line from five metres out to open the scoring. Peter Lydon’s conversion went just wide but the hosts held a 5-0 lead after as many minutes.

However just as it looked as if the Green and Whites had made the ideal start, two quick scores from the visitors turned the scoreboard on its head with a quarter of an hour on the clock.

The Scots went through the phases on the half way line, and an inside ball opened up a huge gap which allowed Miles Mantella to race clear from 40 metres to dot the ball down. Rory Jennings added the extras to put them in front.

Just moments later they extended their lead after a Trailfinders lineout was over thrown and bounced up to the Scots. They instantly spun the ball wide and Tom Griffiths had the pace to run through the defence and slide over for their second try of the afternoon. Jennings again converted to put the visitors nine points in front.

Ben Ward’s side then began to dominate possession as they looked for a way back in to the match, and they were rewarded on the 20 minute mark as Alun Walker went over for his second try of the match. The hosts went through phase over phase deep in the 22, and the hooker carried from close range to bundle over the line. Peter Lydon converted to cut the deficit to just two points.

The hosts created a number of opportunities in the lead up to half time but were left frustrated as a number of knocks ons saw the chances missed. A rolling maul powered towards the line and just at the crucial moment the ball was popped in to Scottish hands, before Lydon broke through the middle but a last ditch tackle saw the Scots survive.

The Trailfinders couldn’t get over the try-line for the remainder of the opening 40, and went in at the break trailing by two points.

Scottish extended their lead straight away as Griffiths broke through again to run through from 40 metres, but the hosts responded when James Cordy Redden was the beneficiary of an overlap on the left wing to cut the deficit to just two points.

A lineout was stolen and straight away the ball was spun wide to the winger who dived in the corner as the Trailfinders got themselves right back in the match.

Ben Ward’s men eventually battled in front just before the hour mark as captain Rayn Smid went over for their fourth try after going through the phases in the 22, and Lydon’s conversion put them five points in front heading in to the final quarter.

Matt Cornish then put the result beyond doubt after powering over the line from close range with 15 minutes remaining for try number five, but the Scots refused to lie down and got a deserved try bonus point in the closing stages as Byron Hodge latched on to an offload to dive over the line.

That score meant that the lead was only five points with seconds left on the clock , but Lydon’s late penalty with the final play of the match ensured that the hosts registered a 34-26 win.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon 14 Will Harries 13 Lewis Jones 12 Harry Sloan 11 James Cordy Redden 10 Craig Willis (replaced by Laurence May, 60 mins) 9 Ryan Foley (replaced by Jordan Burns, 45 mins) 1 Alex Lundberg (replaced by Jordan Els, 45 mins) 2 Alun Walker (replaced by Matt Cornish, 30 mins) 3 Mark Tampin (replaced by Elliot Millar Mills, 55 mins) 4 Ben West 5 Harry Casson 6 Ben Landry (replaced by Max Davies, 75 mins) 7 Rohan O’Regan 8 Rayn Smid ©

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish 17 Jordan Els 18 Elliot Millar Mills 19 Jordan Onojaife 20 Max Davies 21 Jordan Burns 22 Laurence May

Scorers:

Tries: Alun Walker (5, 22 minutes) James Cordy Redden (45 minutes) Rayn Smid (55 minutes) Matt Cornish (66 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (22, 55, 66 minutes)

Penalties: Peter Lydon (80 minutes)

London Scottish:

15 Miles Mantella 14 Rob Stevenson 13 Tom Griffiths 12 Rory Jennings 11 Tom Fowlie 10 Jacob Perry 9 Grayson Hart 1 Jordan Brodley 2 Billy Harding 3 Richard Palframan 4 Theo Vukasinovic 5 James Tyas 6 Matt Eliet 7 Lewis Wynne 8 Mark Bright ©

Replacements:

16 Jared Saunders 17 Jonny Harris 18 Phil Cringle 19 Byron Hodge 20 Richie Vernon 21 Josh Barton 22 Matt Davidson

Scorers:

Tries: Miles Mantella (8 minutes) Tom Griffiths (15, 42 minutes) Byron Hodge (77 minutes)

Conversions: Rory Jennings (8, 15 minutes) Jacob Perry (77 minutes)

Match Officials:

Referee: John Meredith

Assistant Referees: Peter Brunt & Nick Marshall

Fourth Official: Joe James

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 12 –14 London Scottish

Attendance: 782

Harrison’s Vintners & Delicatessen Man of the Match: Peter Lydon

Ealing Trailfinders made a winning return to the Greene King IPA Championship with a hard fought 19-14 victory over Jersey Reds at Trailfinders Sports Club in dramatic circumstances.

Ben Ward’s side trailed by seven points in the second half but tries from Alun Walker and Peter Lydon sent the home supporters in to raptures as the West Londoners moved joint top of the table.

The Trailfinders enjoyed most of the possession and territory in the first half but were up against a stern Jersey defence who held firm. The hosts had a number of opportunities in the early stages but they weren’t clinical and the Reds took advantage.

A lineout from the visitors was overthrown but it bounced up fortuitously to Will Homer who had the pace to run clear from outside the 22 to silence Trailfinders Sports Club. Former Trailfinder Aaron Penberthy converted from in front of the posts to give the Reds a 7-0 lead.

Jordy Reid then looked to have scored the hosts’ first try of the afternoon but a knock on let Jersey off the hook. Harry Sloan drove towards the line and offloaded to the back-rower in the corner but in the act of putting the ball down it slipped out of his hands.

The Green and Whites hammered away at the try-line and eventually they got their reward in the 47th minute of the first half. A sequence of penalties took them right up to the line, and Alun Walker broke away from the back of the maul to score. Peter Lydon added the extras with the final play of the half to make it 7-7 at the break.

The Reds started the second half strongly and went in front straight away courtesy of Leroy Van Dam. Penberthy but a sky-high ball up in the air and it came back down straight in to the arms of the winger who was able to run clear with no defenders in front of him. Penberthy again converted to put the Reds seven points in front.

Peter Lydon was then brought down within inches of the line as the hosts looked for a path back in to the match, but from the resulting lineout they rumbled towards their second try of the game.

Another rolling maul powered to the line and Walker was there yet again to cut the deficit to just two points. The conversion went wide in the wind, but the Trailfinders were now right back in the match.

Both sides battled with enormous physicality as the heat raised significantly as well as plenty of niggle, and as we entered the final 10 minutes the Trailfinders went in front to cue wild celebrations from the home fans.

A penalty was quick tapped by Craig Willis and went within inches of the line, before the ball was spun to Peter Lydon who picked a great line in the middle of the pitch to dive under the posts. He converted his own try to give his side a five point advantage.

Jersey then looked for a way back in to the match but Ward’s men defended their line admirably and held out to smash the ball in to the stands to confirm a huge win ahead of the festive break.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon, 14 Seb Stegmann, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 James Cordy Redden, 10 Laurence May (replaced by Craig Willis, 40 mins) 9 Jordan Burns, 1 Jordan Els (replaced by Alex Lundberg, 60 mins) 2 Alun Walker (replaced by Matt Cornish, 58 mins) 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Ben West, 5 Harry Casson, 6 Jordy Reid, 7 Andrew Durutalo (replaced by Rohan O’Regan, 15 mins) 8 Rayn Smid (c)

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish, 17 Alex Lundberg, 18 George Davis, 19 Jordan Onojaife, 20 Rohan O’Regan, 21 Ryan Foley, 22 Craig Willis

Scorers:

Tries: Alun Walker (40, 56 minutes) Peter Lydon (69 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (40, 69 minutes)

Yellow Card: Matt Cornish

Jersey Reds:

15. Auguy Slowik, 14. Jack Stapley, 13. Apakuki Ma’afu, 12. Mark Best, 11. Leroy Van Dam, 10. Aaron Penberthy, 9. Will Homer, 1. Roy Godfrey (capt), 2. Charlie Maddison, 3. Leeroy Atalifo, 4. Jerry Sexton, 5. Dave McKern, 6. Rory Bartle, 7. Max Argyle, 8. Janco Venter

Replacements:

16. Nick Selway, 17. Harry Morley, 18. Zi Alexis, 19. Charlie Beckett, 20. Kyle Hatherell, 21. Hilton Mudariki, 22. James Newey.

Scorers:

Tries: Will Homer (12 minutes) Leroy Van Dam (42 minutes)

Conversions: Aaron Penberthy (12, 42 minutes)

Yellow Cards: Mark Best, Zi Alexis, Roy Godfrey

Match Officials:

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

Assistant Referees: George Selwood & Lionel Spooner

Fourth Official: Nick Marshall

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 7 – 7 Jersey Reds

Attendance: 1114

Harrison’s Vintners & Delicatessen Man of the Match: Jordy Reid

Ealing Trailfinders produced their best performance of the season so far to inflict a heavy 60-25 defeat on Coventry at Trailfinders Sports Club.

Ben Ward’s men scored nine tries in total as they registered their seventh consecutive victory to stay top of the Greene King IPA Championship table.

Pat Howard crossed for a double whilst Alun Walker, Segundo Tuculet, Rayn Smid, James Cordy Redden, Peter Lydon, Jordy Reid and Ollie Stedman all dotted the ball down during a memorable 80 minutes in the Autumn sunshine.

The raced out of the blocks and scored their first try after just 90 seconds with Pat Howard diving over the line. The returning Kieran Murphy carried through the defence after gathering the bas from the top of a lineout, and he offloaded to the centre who ran clear from outside the 22 to score under the posts.

Alun Walker then drove over the line from a trademark rolling maul after a penalty was kicked to the corner and gathered by the hooker, before Howard scored his second from long range after intercepting and running the length of the pitch. That extended the lead to 19-3 with just 15 minutes on the clock.

Coventry then responded with a counter attack as they had the ball deep in the 22 and spun the ball wide to Anthony Fenner who had the pace to dive over in the corner for their first try of the match.

That seemed to have settled the visitors but the Trailfinders hit back in devastating fashion to secure the bonus point on the half hour mark with a spell of three tries in four minutes. Peter Lydon took an awkward high ball and drew in the final defender before unleashing a looping pass to Segundo Tuculet who had a clear run to the line for his first try for the club.

That was then followed by a remarkable try from Rayn Smid who marked his 50th appearance with a superb score. Murphy and Cordy Redden combined with a pair of neat offloads from 80 metres out and then Smid was on hand to race away as the try came straight from the restart.

Cordy Redden then scored their sixth try of the half and continued his try-scoring run to all but secure the win as a disguised lineout ball allowed an inside ball to find the winger in acres of space. Tom Denton gathered the ball from the top of Walker’s throw and found Jordy Reid who fooled the Coventry defence by passing inside to the winger who flew through the gap.

Coventry scored just before half time to bring themselves back in to the match as Max Trimble stepped his way to the line, but Lydon’s penalty with the final play of the half sent the teams went down the tunnel after a breathless opening 40 minutes which saw the Trailfinders hold a 41-13 lead.

Lydon started the second half in similar fashion to the first half with an early try. The full-back pounced on a wide ball from Craig Willis to score in the corner, but the visitors hit back when Trimble scored his second straight after from inside the 22 as the game began to open up.

Jordy Reid then powered over the line on the hour mark from the base of a scrum to bring up the half century, but Coventry captain Heath Stevens then sneaked his way to the line from a lineout inside the 22 to give the visitors a four-try bonus point.

Ollie Stedman then rounded off the scoring with the final play of the game after powerful carry from close range meant that the back-rower couldn’t be stopped, and Lydon’s sixth conversion brought up the 60 point mark to cue huge celebrations from the home supporters.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon 14 Segundo Tuculet 13 Guy Armitage 12 Pat Howard 11 James Cordy Redden 10 Craig Willis (replaced by Sam Olver, 60 mins) 9 Ryan Foley (replaced by Jordan Burns, 65 mins) 1 Alex Lundberg (replaced by Jake Ellwood, 50 mins) 2 Alun Walker (replaced by Matt Cornish, 50 mins) 3 Ben Betts (replaced by Elliot Millar Mills, 35 mins) 4 Ben West (replaced by Jordan Onojaife, 75 mins) 5 Tom Denton 6 Kieran Murphy (replaced by Ollie Stedman, 65 mins) 7 Jordy Reid 8 Rayn Smid (c)

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish 17 Jake Ellwood 18 Elliot Millar Mills 19 Jordan Onojaife 20 Ollie Stedman 21 Jordan Burns 22 Sam Olver

Scorers:

Tries: Pat Howard (2, 12 minutes) Alun Walker (8 minutes) Segundo Tuculet (27 minutes) Rayn Smid (28 minutes) James Cordy Redden (31 minutes) Peter Lydon (51 minutes) Jordy Reid (60 minutes) Ollie Stedman (79 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (2, 12, 28, 31, 60, 80 minutes)

Penalties: Peter Lydon (40 minutes)

Yellow Card: Segundo Tuculet

Coventry:

15 Tony Fenner 14 Rob Knox 13 Heath Stevens (c) 12 Sam Tuitupou 11 Max Trimble 10 Jake Sharp 9 Pete White 1 James Gibbons 2 Phil Nilsen 3 Luc Jeannot 4 Tom Jubb 5 George Oram 6 Dan Faleafa 7 Ben Nutley 8 Ben Adams

Replacements:

16 Scott Tolmie 17 Charlie Beech 18 Jack Higgins 19 Adam Peters 20 Jack Preece 21 Tom Kessell 22 Junior Bulumakau

Scorers:

Tries: Anthony Fenner (22 minutes) Max Trimble (34, 54 minutes) Heath Stevens (70 minutes)

Conversions: Jake Sharp (70 minutes)

Penalties: Jake Sharp (4 minutes)

Yellow Card: Heath Stevens

Match Officials:

Referee: Dean Richards

Assistant Referees: Ian Bibey & Lionel Spooner

Fourth Official: Ben Wilde

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 41 – 13 Coventry

Attendance: 740

Harrison’s Vintners & Delicatessen Man of the Match: Pat Howard