Ealing Trailfinders vs Nottingham

Ealing Trailfinders moved into third place in the Greene King IPA Championship after a clinical performance against a Nottingham side that featured two former players in wings James Stephenson and Billy Robinson.

Ben Ward’s team will need to wait for the result of Doncaster Knight and Yorkshire Carnegie on Sunday to find out if they will stay third by the end of the weekend, but the win did to keep them at arm’s-length from the pursuing pack led by Cornish Pirates and Jersey Reds.

The scoring started early when Ealing Trailfinders’ pack won a penalty try. Rory Clegg added the conversion and then knocked over a penalty.

Lewis Jones then extended the lead further when he popped up on Joe Munro’s shoulder to run in between the posts.

Nottingham didn’t sit back and after their pack had tried their luck with a number of driving mauls, they eventually scored a penalty-try of their own.

Despite the set-back Ealing Trailfinders responded in emphatic fashion. Will Harries scored the third after linking with Clegg and Lewis Jones in midfield and then the fullback put Miles Mantella away for his first with a simple one on one.

Mark Bright and Kieran Murphy were leading the charge with powerful runs in midfield. At the line-out Llewelyn Jones and Glen Townson were taking great pleasure in disrupting Nottingham’s line-out, then when the ball went to the backs Clegg had time and space to pick out the numerous runners outside him.

Lewis Jones scored a fifth try when he swooped on a dropped pass, but Nottingham had the final word of the half when number 8 Shane Buckley took a tapped free-kick and powered over.

Nottingham continued to attack after the break and used the tail-wind to their advantage. However, it was Ealing Trailfinders who extended the league when Mantella scored his second.

It set the hosts up to take the match by the scruff of the neck. As the clock ran down Josh Davies rounded off a swift counter-attack and then with only two minutes left Munro crashed over from close range against his former club.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Penalty 3, Lewis Jones 12, 31 Harries 22, Mantella 26, 48, Davies 71, Munro 78), Conversions (Clegg 3, 12, 22, 26, 31, 48, Penberthy 71, 78), Penalties (Clegg 6)
Nottingham
Tries (Penalty 16, Buckley 38), Conversions (Eden 16)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Miles Mantella, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Glen Townson, Llewelyn Jones, Kieran Murphy, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, James Gibbons, Alex Penny, Barney Maddison, Arthur Ellis, Josh Davies, Aaron Penberthy

Nottingham
Will Millett, Billy Robinson, Oli Evans, Vili Hakalo, James Stephenson, Tiff Eden, Darryl Veenendaal, Owen Hills, Jimmy Stevens, Ben Hooper, Tom Holmes, Ben Morris, Jordan Coghlan, Matt Everard (Captain), Shane Buckley
Reserves
TJ Harris, Will Stuart, Tom West, Toby Freeman, Josh Poullet, Murray McConnell, Alex Goble

Referee – Matthew O’Grady
Attendance – 682
STORM Watches Man of the Match

Rotherham Titans vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders stay in the Greene King IPA Championship play-off places after running in six tries in their maiden victory at Rotherham Titans’ Clifton Lane home.

Kieran Murphy grabbed a brace of tries, Luke Carter scored one on his return to South Yorkshire and there were further scores from Will Harries, Rayn Smid and Sam Rodman.

Rory Clegg made his club debut after his deadline day move and he finished with a 100 percent record with his boot of six conversions and three penalties.

Ben Ward’s team were helped after Rotherham Titans second row Miles Normandale was sent off for catching Carter’s head with a boot after 16 minutes. It meant there was plenty of room for Clegg to set his runners free; either the outside backs into space, or powerful drives from the forward pack.

Clegg had scored his first penalty by the time Normandale received his marching orders and soon after he converted Murphy’s first try after the back-row had been driven over from the back of a lineout.

The flanker then added his second when he peeled round the back of a lineout to leave him with a straight-forward run over the line.

After the pack continued to exert more pressure on the line Carter scooted around the side of a ruck to leave a four-try bonus point on the cards just before the half-hour mark. It duly came shortly before half-time when Murphy turned creator with a clever chip over the defence that Harries swooped on.

Clegg kicked his third penalty to bring the half to a close, but when they returned it was the 14 men of Rotherham Titans who started in the ascendancy.

Prop Jo Rees was driven over for their first points and while Ealing Trailfinders responded with Smid’s first try for the club, wing Tom Collins received the biggest cheer of the day when he intercepted a loose pass and raced home from his half.

Ealing Trailfinders enjoyed the final word as the pack again took command of proceedings and with the clock running down prop Rodman scored Ealing Trailfinders’ sixth in a similar way to their first by being driven over following a lineout win from Willie Ryan.

Scorers
Rotherham Titans
Tries (Rees 47, Collins 60), Conversions (Ryan 60)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Murphy 15, 23, Carter 29, Harries 37, Smid 55, Rodman 71), Conversions (Clegg 15, 23, 29, 37, 55, 71), Penalties (5, 19, 40)

Rotherham Titans
Will Thomas, Ben Foley, Callum Wilson, Will Owen, Tom Collins, Charlie Foley, Connor Murphy; Tom Williams, Luke Cole, Joe Rees, Miles Normandale, Oli Curry, Tom Calladine, Charlie Maddison, Lewis Ludlam
Reserves
Joe Graham, Toby Williams, Danny Herriot, Darren Oliver, Tom MacDonald, Matt Walsh, Caolan Ryan

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Rhys Lawrence, James Gibbons, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Willie Ryan, Josh Davies, Curtis Wilson

Referee – Ian Tempest
Attendance – 773

Bedford Blues vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders won for the first time at Goldington Road after Mark Bright and Miles Mantella scored tries either side of half-time and Aaron Penberthy scored 19 points with his boot.

It was a match that was littered by elementary mistakes from both sides, but after Ealing Trailfinders weathered 20 minutes of Bedford Blues dominating possession and territory they eventually broke free of their half to take the lead and control the remainder of the match.

The result means Ben Ward’s side stay fourth in the Greene King IPA Championship and in the play-off places.

The opening 10 minutes were pock-marked by basic errors by both teams, but once the match settled down it was Ealing Trailfinders who opened the scoring when Aaron Penberthy knocked over a penalty after the pack had put the squeeze on their opponents at a scrum.

As both teams began to find their stride Miles Mantella made an important interception to stop a Blues overlap from being exploited. Nonetheless fly-half Miles Dorrian kicked them level with his first penalty of the day.

Penberthy responded with his second penalty to restore the lead after a number of carries from the pack forced Bedford into offending. They then enjoyed a good five-minute period on the Blues’ line, but the home side’s defence held strong to repel the danger.

The hosts showed the threat they pose on the counter as they scored their first try. Piers O’Conor found space to attack out wide, Ed Packman collected O’Conor’s rubber, held off the defence and off-loaded for O’Conor to cross.

Ealing Trailfinders hit back quickly with a try of their own and again the pack was to fore. First came a lineout catch and drive and when the Blues stopped that, first Kieran Murphy and then Mark Bright attacked the line, with the captain breaking through to score by the posts.

Penberthy converted the try and then landed his third penalty to stretch the lead further, but after Bedford built some momentum deep in the visitors half, Dorrian kicked his second penalty.

The Blues continued their attacking intent after the break and good hands from Will Carrick-Smith and Ollie Dodge set fullback Elliot Clements-Hill free to race home.

They continued to enjoy the bulk of possession and territory up to the hour mark, albeit without being able to find their way through the Ealing Trailfinders defence again.

Lewis Jones stopped number 8 Jason Hill on the line and his 14 teammates all dug deep to hold the Blues out. Then when Ealing Trailfinders did break out of their own half Penberthy scored his fourth penalty of the day to restore the visitors lead.

Ealing Trailfinders still had to be on the mettle in defence, but after Aled Jenkins won a turnover, Joe Munro led a counter-attack to set up position close to the Bedford line. It appeared the hosts had averted the danger, but Mantella swooped on a loose pass to race clear for his third try in two matches.

With five minutes to go Penberthy scored his fifth penalty and while he missed a sixth, by then he and his teammates were in full control of proceedings as the clocked ticked to fulltime.

Scorers
Bedford Blues
Tries (O’Conor 25, Clements-Hill 45), Penalties (Dorrian 15, 38)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Bright 30, Mantella 73), Conversions (Penberthy 30, 75), Penalties (Penberthy 11, 17, 35, 65, 75)

Bedford Blues
Elliot Clement-Hill, Howard Packman, Piers O’Conor, Ollie Dodge, Dean Adamson, Myles Dorrian (captain), Tom Whiteley; Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Dan George, Billy Walker, Jordan Onojaife, Will Carrick-Smith, Paul Tupai, Ben Adams, Jason Hill
Reserves
Jacob Fields, Camillo Parilli-Ocampo, Ben Cooper, Byron Hodge, Justin Blanchet, Jordan Burns, Jake Sharp

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Ignacio Lancuba, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Rayn Smid, Josh Davies, Lewis Jones

Referee – Matthew O’Grady
Attendance – 2,094

Ealing Trailfinders vs Richmond

Ealing Trailfinders ran in four tries to stay fourth in the Greene King IPA Championship after taking all five points on offer.

Wings James Cordy-Redden and Miles Mantella scored the tries on a day when the two teams hammered into each other, with little neighbourly love on display on the Valentine’s Day weekend.

After the initial exchanges Rob Kirby kicked the first points of the day, but Ealing Trailfinders responded by setting up Luke Daniels for a run that took him deep into Richmond’s half.

Jordan Simpson-Heft showed the visitors’ determination not to take a backward step when he powered into Aled Jenkins. However, the ball was quickly turned over and Cordy-Redden plucked Penberthy’s cross-kick out of the sky and raced away to score in the corner.

The pair nearly repeated the move moments later as Ealing Trailfinders played their advantage. After the move was stopped Luke Carter then raced through the middle of the Richmond defence from the base of the scrum.

Ealing Trailfinders continued to apply the pressure and after two penalties took them up to the Richmond line, the ball went left, then back to the right where Joe Munro set Mantella free to run in his first try since he joined the club in December.

An accidental offside by Ross Grimstone stopped a Richmond attack and after Penberthy found touch with the penalty, Barney Maddison’s catch and Chris York’s carry broke the game line and Jenkins set up Cordy-Redden for his second.

Again Richmond came at the Ealing Trailfinders defence with Ronnie McLean making a number of strong carries, but again the home side’s defence held firm and Munro, York and Mantella then combined to turn defence into attack.

The visitors broke through on the stroke of half-time when flanker Jack Allcock was driven over from a rolling maul after the Richmond pack had gone through a number of phases to win a penalty.

They continued to go on the offensive after half-time though it took 10 minutes for either side to make the breakthrough. It came after Arthur Ellis found space in midfield, used quick feet to beat his man and then popped the ball to Mantella to race away.

Richmond responded with a converted try after tight-head prop Rupert Harden drove over, but again it prefaced a good period of possession and territory for the home side and only an interception from wing Jonathan Woodward stopped Munro joining the list of try-scorers.

Penberthy knocked over a penalty to keep Richmond at arm’s length as the clock ran down and captain Mark Bright then came up with a vital line-out steal as Richmond went on the attack.

It held them at bay for a short while, but with the final kick Kirby landed his second penalty that ensured they went home across Kew Bridge with a losing bonus point.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Cordy-Redden 11, 26 Mantella 22, 50), Conversions (Penberthy 12, 26), Penalties (Penberthy 75)
Richmond
Tries (Allcock 40, Harden 55), Conversions (Kirby 40, 55), Penalties (Kirby 7, 80)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Chris York, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Rhys Lawrence, James Gibbons, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Rayn Smid, Alex Walker, Lewis Jones

Richmond
Rob Kirby, Jono Woodward, Cameron Mitchell, Ronnie McLean, Jordan Simpson-Heft, Rory Damant, Sam Stuart, Joe Tarrant, Ross Grimstone, Rupert Harden, Will Warden (captain), Matt Corker, Adam Peters, Jack Allcock, Chris Davies
Reserves
Richard Townsend, Timmy Walford, Tom Sargeant, Jamie Gibbs, Freddie Gabbitass, Harry Edwards, Jeremy Cunnew

STORM Watches Man of the Match – Aaron Penberthy
Referee – Steve Lee
Attendance – 1,022

Doncaster Knights vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders secured a second consecutive win on the road in the Greene King IPA Championship and in doing so closed the gap to Doncaster Knights in third place to four points.

It was an impressive performance by Ben Ward’s side who dominated the first half and then withstood a Knights’ fightback as fulltime drew near.

Four Aaron Penberthy penalties put Ealing Trailfindes 9-3 ahead at half-time, though the Knights defence had stopped them from breeching the try-line. Barney Maddison made the breakthrough midway through the second half, but when Knights debutant Aaron Carpenter scored on his debut with eight minutes remaining it appeared as though the Yorkshiremen had performed a smash and grab job.

However, the team maintained their focus as the clock ran down and Joe Munro cut a strong line from a scrum to retake the lead. Penberthy’s conversion and then drop goal just before the final whistle meant that there would also be no bonus point for the hosts.

Ealing Trailfinders didn’t hang around and began in determined mood. Penberthy scored his first penalty for an early lead, but the Knights hit back with one of their own through Dougie Flockhart.

The match continued became a battle of Ealing Trailfinders’ attack against Doncaster Knights defence, who held out the visitor’s efforts on a number of occasions. They did add another two penalties through Penberthy’s right boot when wing Sean Scanlon was in the sin-bin for making contact with James Cordy-Redden in the air.

The second half began in the same vein when Penberthy scored his fourth penalty after Knights centre Lloyd Hayes had become the second play to be yellow-carded.

They responded immediately when Michael Heaney pounced on a loose restart to run in the first try of the match to bring the score to 12-8, but Maddison then took advantage of a pass straight to him that allowed him to canter home.

As the clock ticked past the hour mark the home side raised their intensity and Flockhart slotted two penalties to close to within five points. They kept Ealing Trailfinders in deep in their half and after a strong carry from Jarad Williams from a scrum Carpenter forced his way over from the next phase to give the hosts the lead for the first time.

With the final whistle approaching Munro cut a swathe through the Knights defence and then from the restart the team went through the phases to establish a position from where Penberthy could pop over a drop goal to silence the 1,452 crowd.

Scorers
Doncaster Knights
Tries (Heaney 49, Carpenter 72), Conversions (Flockhart 72), Penalties (Flockhart16, 63, 66)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Maddison 58, Munro 78), Conversions (Penberthy 58, 78), Penalties (Penberthy 9, 21, 30, 43), Drop Goal (Penberthy 80)

Doncaster Knights
Paul Jarvis, Dougie Flockhart, Lloyd Hayes, Mat Clark, Tyson Lewis, Dec Cusack, Michael Heaney, Richard List, Ben Hunter, WillGriff John, Matt Challinor, Dave Nolan, Jack Ram, Michael Hills (captain), Jarad Williams
Reserves
Jack Bergmanas, Harry Allen, Colin Quigley, Latu Makaafi, Aaron Carpenter, Sam Edgerley, Sean Scanlon

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Miles Mantella, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Chris York, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Ignacio Lancuba, Sam Rodman, Adam Preocanin, Willie Ryan, Alex Walker, Will Harries

Attendance – 1,452

Ealing Trailfinders vs London Irish

Ealing Trailfinders were denied a famous win against the Greene King IPA Championship leaders in front of their biggest crowd of the season when Irish fullback Tommy Bell hit a late penalty.

Both teams pushed each other hard for the full 80 minutes in a ferocious contest and the result means that Ben Ward’s team finished with a losing bonus point that keeps them fourth in the table.

Ealing Trailfinders quickly found their stride and after building pressure in the Irish half, debutant Miles Mantella broke the line, linked with Aled Jenkins, Arthur Ellis and Kieran Murphy, who set Phil Chesters to finish in the corner.

Bell closed the gap with a penalty as the visitors began to find their rhythm. After continuing to apply pressure fly-half James Marshall ran in their first try of the match after good interplay in midfield between Brendan McKibbin and Fergus Mulchrone.

Both teams continued to chance their arm with the ball and Chesters narrowly missed Aaron Penberthy’s crosskick. Llewelyn Jones then came up with an important lineout steal when Irish had kicked deep from a penalty.

Mark Bright began to impose himself further on the match and set Will Harries free to race clear after he had shrugged off three tacklers. Harries was hauled down short of the line and while Murphy kept the mover going, Irish’s defence continued to hold out.

Bright then made a vital tackle on Mulchrone on the stroke of halftime to ensure the hosts remained in touching distance at the break.

Penberthy scored the first points of the half with a well-struck penalty and Murphy and Harries both made runs that caused the Irish defence problems, albeit without breaking through. Instead it was Irish who added to the score when Topsy Ojo hit a strong line off a Marshall inside pass.

Ealing Trailfinders response was emphatic and after the pack built momentum on the line, Llewelyn Jones marked his return to action by wiggled through the Irish defence, which along with Penberthy’s conversion closed the deficit to two points.

Irish’s pack won a scrum penalty that Bell banged over, but Ealing Trailfinders again responded in fine style. Jenkins found space to break through the midfield and once more Chesters was on his shoulder to round off the move.

Harries was again stopped short after he was first to a Penberthy crosskick and Jenkins then had to make an important tackle on Scott Steele after the reserve scrumhalf raced clear.

Bell hit his second penalty with less than 10 minutes to play, but Ealing Trailfinders maintained their energy levels. One last counter-attack broke down and that allowed Irish to run the clock down and Steele to hammer the ball clear to bring the match to an end.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Chesters 6, 67, Llewelyn Jones 56), Conversions (Penberthy 56, 67), Penalties (Penberthy 44)
London Irish
Tries (Marshall 19, Ojo 52), Conversions (Bell 19, 52), Penalties (Bell 14, 64, 71)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Phil Chesters, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, James Gibbons, Sam Rodman, Chris York, Rayn Smid, Alex Walker, Lewis Jones

London Irish
Tommy Bell, Topsy Ojo, Ciaran Hearn, Fergus Mulchrone, Aseli Tikoirotuma, James Marshall, Brendan McKibbin, Tom Court, David Paice (captain), Ben Franks, George Robson, Sebastian De Chaves, Mike Coman, Blair Cowan, Ofisa Treviranus
Reserves
Todd Gleave, Harry Elrington, Oliver Hoskins, Will Lloyd, Luke Narraway, Scott Steele, Johnny Williams

Referee – JP Doyle
Attendance – 2,630
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Mark Bright

Jersey Reds vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders rang in the New Year in fine style by beating old rivals Jersey Reds at St Peter, their second win over the Channel Islanders in this season’s Greene King IPA Championship.

The result took Ben Ward’s side up to fourth in the Championship table after they had slipped to fifth place overnight.

Centre Joe Munro scored his second try in two matches against Jersey Reds this season and fly-half Aaron Penberthy weighed in with a conversion, drop goal and three second-half penalties that secured the result.

Ward’s team took the lead and held it for the rest of the match and when Jersey Reds’ pack tried to impose themselves as the clock ticked down, the Ealing Trailfinders forwards responded in powerful fashion to close out the result.

Ealing Trailfinders started in good form and quickly had their hosts under pressure after they forced them into conceding a number of penalties. Twice they tried to attack through a driven line-out, but on both occasions the Reds defence held firm.

Luke Daniels then had a chance to open the scoring but was unable to collect Aaron Penberthy’s cross-kick.

As the match settled down Jersey Reds went on the attack, but a couple of loose lineout throws allowed the visitors to hold out in defence.

With quarter of an hour gone the deadlock was broken when Penberthy opened the scoring with a smartly taken drop goal.

Lewis Jones then set up another attack when he was first to Penberthy’s chip kick. Joe Munro was stopped narrowly short of the Jersey line, but after the pack continued to attack Munro crossed at the second time of asking.

Ealing Trailfinders kept up their pressure and Penberthy showed his running ability with a run that took him past three Jersey defenders and up to the hosts line.

Jersey Reds fullback Ross Adair and Heath Stevens both had runs off their own, but the home side scored their first points when prop Simon Kerrod was driven over from a rolling maul. Fly-half Sam Katz added the conversion to bring them within three points as half-time drew near.

Penberthy scored his first penalty of the match early in the second half to give the visitors a six-point lead, but Jersey responded immediately with a penalty of their own through Katz.

The Ealing Trailfinders fly-half scored his second penalty almost immediately but Katz hit back with his to keep the home team in touching distance. As Ealing Trailfinders pack began to match their opposite number they earned Penberthy the chance to score his third and he didn’t disappoint as the time ticked past the 65-minute mark.

Hooker Jack Macfarlane came close to crossing in the corner for the hosts, but after the opted for a line-out after a penalty Daniels led the counter-attack that took play into the Jersey half.

Jersey Reds came again with a driving maul from a line-out and then opted for a scrum from another. However, the Ealing Trailfinders pack held firm to win a penalty and Luke Carter hammered the ball off the field to ensure the victory.

Scorers
Jersey Reds
Tries (Kerrod 37), Conversions (Katz 37), Penalties (Katz 48, 53)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Munro 21), Conversions (Penberthy 21), Penalties (Penberthy 44, 51, 65), Drop goal (Penberthy 15)

Jersey Reds
Ross Adair, George Watkins, Juki Ma’afu, Heath Stevens, Jordan Davies, Sam Katz, Kieran Hardy; Marc Thomas, Joe Buckle, Simon Kerrod, Nick Campbell, Dave McKern, Gary Graham, James Freeman (capt), Nick Haining
Reserves
Jack Macfarlane, Sean McCarthy, Mark Tampin, Uili Kolo’i, Max Argyle, Sami Fisilau, Joel Dudley

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Will Harries, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, Jams Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; James Gibbons, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Glen Townson, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Seb Nagle-Taylor, Mark Bright (capt)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Will Davis, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Adam Preocanin, Alex Walker, Luke Carter

Referee – Kristoff Ridley
Attendance – 1,596

Ealing Trailfinders vs Cornish Pirates

Ealing Trailfinders were unable to give their fans a festive treat when they slipped to only their second loss at Vallis Way.

Curtis Wilson scored a try and Aaron Penberthy added a conversion and three penalties, but it wasn’t enough to stop a determined Pirates side who were inspired by livewire scrumhalf Stuart Townsend.

Ben Ward’s side did at least finish with a losing bonus point that takes them to 31 points in the Greene King IPA Championship.

Wilson came close to opening the scoring early on, but he was unable to reach Alex Walker’s grubber before it ran dead.

Instead it was Pirates who struck first when Toby May finished in the corner after scrumhalf Stuart Townsend had sparked their back line with a tapped penalty on the halfway line.

Townsend continued to cause problems and Laurence May also came close to breaking through before Ealing Trailfinders’ defence had to bundle Alex Cheesman into touch close to their line.

Soon after Pirates hooker Tom Channon was held up after a driven line-out, as was Marlen Walker as the Pirates continued to set the tempo.

Ealing Trailfinders began to work their way back into the match and Aaron Penberthy slotted his first penalty after the Pirates defence was penalised for offside.

The home defence continued to work hard as Pirates continued to apply the pressure, but neither side added to the score before the break.

The home side came out and immediately raised their intensity. Alun Walker came close to the hosts first try, before Penberthy kicked them ahead early in the second period.

Pirates Laurence May replied almost immediately with his first penalty and then picked out wing Jack Arnott with a carefully threaded grubber kick.

Penberthy kicked his third penalty and then after Arthur Ellis had broken into the Pirates half, Wilson was set free down the right wing to score in the corner.

The fly-half’s conversion put Ealing Trailfinders ahead for the first time, but Pirates prop Tyler Gendall wiggled over after Joe Munro had twice stopped the Cornish backline from breaking through.

Ealing Trailfinders did their best to fight back as the clock ran down, but the Pirates controlled possession and ran the clock down by kicking deep whenever they could to stop the home side facing a packed defence whenever they ran the ball back.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Wilson 62), Conversions (Penberthy 63), Penalties (Penberthy 32, 46, 60)
Cornish Pirates
Tries (Toby May 7, Arnott 51, Gendall 68), Conversions (Laurence May 52, 68), Penalties (Laurence May 48)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Curtis Wilson, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Phil Chesters, Aaron Penberthy, Alex Walker; James Gibbons, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Carwyn Jones, Glen Townson, Willie Ryan, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Ignacio Lancuba, Sam Rodman, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Luke Carter, Lewis Jones

Cornish Pirates
Toby May, Jack Arnott, Max Bodilly, Nicolas De Battista, Kyle Moyle, Laurence May, Stuart Townsend; Marlen Walker, Tom Channon, Tyler Gendall, Chris Morgan (capt), Brett Beukeboom, Sam Simmonds, Alex Cheesman, Tom Duncan
Reserves
Jack Innard, Alan Paver, Jake Parker, Dan Lee, Alex Day, Will Cargill, Bar Bartlett.

Referee – Mike Hudson
Attendance – 856

London Scottish vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders endured a torrid night away to London Scottish under the lights of the Athletic Ground as the hosts controlled the match from start to finish to impose the visitors fourth defeat in the Greene King IPA Championship this season.

The pack earned a penalty try at the end of the first half and Alun Walker was driven over in the second half, but otherwise the hosts pulled the strings to help them climb the Championship table.

London Scottish kicked off and were rewarded for keeping their visitors pinned in their own half for the first five minutes when fullback Peter Lydon kicked a penalty to take an early lead.

They continued to exert the early pressure and Lydon slotted his second penalty five minutes later to put the hosts comfortably in control. Wing Jason Harries then opened the try-scoring when he popped up on centre Patrick Kelly’s shoulder to run in.

Ealing Trailfinders finally managed to build some momentum and Harry Casson and Willie Ryan both broke the line with powerful runs, but eventually Scottish won a turnover and kicked deep to pin the visitors back in their own half.

Again they left with points after Lydon slotted his third penalty of the night, but Scottish continued to dominate possession and Lydon scored his fourth penalty from just inside his own half.

Ealing Trailfinders weathered the pressure but were still unable to find a toe-hold in the match, but again Scottish made their pressure count when Lydon scored his fifth penalty of the night.

The first half ended with Ealing Trailfinders hammering the Scottish line and the earned their breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty try that Aaron Penberthy converted on the stroke of half-time.

Lydon started the second half as he started the first with another penalty, but Ealing Trailfinders responded by driving over Alun Walker from a lineout close to the Scottish line.

They were unable to build on it though and Lydon made it seven penalties from seven just as the clock ticked past the hour mark. That is how it remained as neither team were able to break either side down over the final 20 minutes.

Ealing Trailfinders will now face Bedford Blues at Goldington Road in the British and Irish Cup on Saturday 10 December.

Scorers
London Scottish
Tries (Harries 14), Conversions (Lydon 14), Penalties (Lydon 5, 10, 19, 22, 36, 43, 59)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Penalty 40, Walker 50), Conversions (Penberthy 40)

London Scottish
Peter Lydon, Alec Coombes, Robbie Fergusson, Patrick Kelly, Jason Harries, Harry Sheppard, Ed Hoadley; Grant Shiells, George Turner, Ewan McQuillin, Rory Bartle (captain), Neale Patrick, Ally Miller, Danny Kenny, Ifereimi Boladau
Reserves
Devlin Hope, Jonny Harris, Dan Koroi, Callum Hunter Hill, Joe Atkinson, Craig Holland, Tom Galbraith

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Curtis Wilson, Aaron Penberthy, Alex Walker; James Gibbons, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Harry Casson, Adam Preocanin, Willie Ryan, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Ignacio Lancuba, Alex Penny, Llewelyn Jones, Lewis Jones, Luke Carter, Ben Ward

Referee – John Merideth
Attendance – 951

Ealing Trailfinders vs London Welsh

Ealing Trailfinders left it late, but eventually ground down a determined London Welsh side to grab four of the five points on offer to maintain their position of third in the Greene King IPA Championship.

After 75 minutes the pack won a penalty that Aaron Penberthy converted to take the lead for the first time at 13-11.

As the clock ran down and Welsh tried desperately to fight back, Penberthy held his nerve to score his third penalty and then with the final kick of the game, wiggled his way onto his left foot to drop a goal that meant the visitors left empty-handed.

It didn’t take London Welsh long to open the scoring. Fullback Martyn Thomas ran back a high kick and broke into the Ealing Trailfinders half. He was stopped by a combination of Alex Walker and Luke Daniels, but hooker Nathan Morris was on hand to collect the pop pass and run home.

The Exiles used the try to assert their dominance early on, notably through their attacking line-out and Joe Carlisle knocked over a penalty to extend their early advantage.

Ealing Trailfinders’ first chance came after Aled Jenkins charged down a Carlisle clearance. Matt Cornish took it on, but the team were able to capitalise. They maintained the pressure though and Penberthy slotted a penalty soon after.

The points preceded a good period of pressure for Ealing Trailfinders, who found their rhythm with backs and forwards linking up together and eventually they were rewarded when Penberthy scored his second penalty.

On the stroke of half-time Penberthy had the chance to put the hosts into the lead for the first time, but his kick rebounded back off a post to leave the Exiles ahead at the break.

The second half continued as the first ended with Ealing Trailfinders enjoying the better of the possession and territory, albeit without converting it into points.

Welsh stretched their lead when Carlisle scored his second penalty and then the match swung back and forth without either side able to grab the match by the scruff of the neck.

Just over 10 minutes from time Welsh number 8 Kieran Murphy was yellow carded and after the penalty was kicked to touch. After the initial drive from Willie Ryan, Penberthy was stopped illegally short of the line.

From the scrum the pack drove hard to win a penalty try and Penberthy converted to put Ealing Trailfinders into the lead for the first time.

The pack won another scrum penalty two minutes from time and Penberthy converted the penalty to stretch the lead to five points with two to go. He then dropped a goal off his left foot to extend the advantage further still on the stroke of half-time.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Penalty 75), Conversions (Penberthy 75), Penalties (Penberthy 20, 24, 78), Drop goals (Penberthy 79)
London Welsh
Tries (Morris 2), Penalties (Carlisle 16, 54)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Curtis Wilson, Aaron Penberthy, Alex Walker; Ignacio Lancuba, Rhys Lawrence, Lewis Thiede, Harry Casson, Adam Preocanin, Chris York, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Alun Walker, James Gibbons, Alex Penny, Willie Ryan, Lewis Jones, Josh Davies, Ben Ward

London Welsh
Martyn Thomas, Kristian Phillips, Nick Reynolds, Seb Jewell, Chris Elder, Joe Carlisle, Rob Lewis; Nathan Trevett, Nathan Morris, Ben Cooper, Ben West, Barney Maddison, Ben Pienaar, Ryan Hodson (captain), Kieran Murphy
Reserves
Koree Britton, James Hallam, Lovejoy Chawatama, Jesse Liston, Ryan Glynn, Glyn Hughes, Heath Stevens

Attendance – 792
Referee – Michael Hudson

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