Ealing Trailfinders vs Jersey Reds

Ealing Trailfinders ensured their place in the Greene King IPA Championship next season with a nail-biting clash against old rivals Jersey, who came close to staging a second-half fightback.

James Love kicked two long-range penalties in the second-half to keep the visitors at bay, with the second calming nerves as the clock ran down to keep the Channel Islanders at arm’s length.

Jersey pressured early on from kick-off, but Ealing Trailfinders’ defence kept their shape and a strong tackle by Toby Howley-Berridge on Pierce Phillips set the tone. Ealing Trailfinders’ pack then played their part to the full; first by forcing a knock-on at a line-out and then by shoving their opposite numbers of the ball, dominance that was to continue as the half went on.

Neither team were able to find any rhythm early on and the match swung back and forth. Luke Daniels led a strong counter-attack that brought the crowd to their feet, but after linking with Arthur Ellis Jersey’s defence recovered to snuff out the threat.

Ealing Trailfinders pack continued to enjoy dominance at the scum and off the back of one on the half-way line the ball went wide, Daniels broke the Jersey defence and he put Love free to race away to the corner for a try that Jonny Bentley converted.

Jersey fullback Ross Adair showed that the visitors carried a threat in attack and he broke the Ealing Trailfinders line as the Channel Islanders sought to hit back, but prop Will Davis raced back to stick out a well-timed arm and stop the move.

Ealing Trailfinders continued to press and after the pack twice tried to roll a maul over, Alun Walker wriggled through a group bodies to ground the ball. Ben Ward then added the conversion.

Daniels nearly put Love away for a second, but the pass was marginally forward. The pack won another penalty from the scrum though and after Ellis and Chris York were stopped short, Iain Grieve powered through from close-range.

As half-time drew closed Nick Campbell pulled a try back for Jersey after Gary Graham had gone close, but soon after the restart Ward slotted a penalty to give Ealing Trailfinders some momentum.

Substitute Uili Kolo’ofa’i was driven over for a try to reduce the arrears, Love hit back with a penalty from just inside the Jersey half and then Kolo’ofa’i grabbed his second in identical circumstances as the match began to open up.

As the hour mark approached Jersey began to enjoy their best period of the match and fly-half Cope found his form. Pierce Phillips secured a four-try bonus point from another driving maul and Cope’s conversion brought the visitors to within a point.

Jersey’s pack and after Ealing Trailfinders’ pack had stopped a number of attempts to maul over, Ellis swept on a loose throw to relieve the pressure.

It gave Ealing Trailfinders the momentum to keep their opponents in their half and when Love had the chance to score a second penalty he duly obliged to leave the Channel Islanders needing a converted try to win.

They were unable to find a way through and the home side were happy to run the clock down until Ward was able to hoof it to touch to ensure their place in the Championship next season.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Love 17, Walker 28, Grieve 33), Conversions (Bentley 18, Ward 28, 34), Penalties (Ward 41, Love 49, 76)
Jersey
Tries (Campbell 37, Kolo’ofa’i 47, 52, Phillips 62), Conversions (Cope 53, 63)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Toby Howley-Berridge, Tom Wheatcroft, James Love, Jonny Bentley, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Alex Penny, Paul Spivey, Adam Preocanin, Iain Grieve, Arthur Ellis, Chris York (captain)
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Rhys Lawrence, Sam Rodman, Llewelyn Jones, Alex Bradley, Tom Trotter, Ben Ward

Jersey
Ross Adair, Tom Howe, Ollie Evans, Lewis Robling, Richard Lane, Brendan Cope, Joel Dudley; Sean McCarthy, Joe Buckle, Simon Kerrod, Nick Campbell, Pierce Phillips, Alex Rae (captain), James Freeman, Nick Haining
Reserves
Danny Herriot, Nick Selway, Jake Woolmore, Uili Kolo’ofa’i, Gary Graham, Samisoni Fisilau, Aaron Penberthy

STORM Watches Man of the Match – Chris York
Referee – Ian Tempest
Attendance – 658

Nottingham vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders left Lady Bay with a losing bonus point after a hard-fought clash against Nottingham.

Luke Daniels scored two tries and Jonny Bentley converted one and added two penalties to move Ben Ward’s side four points clear of Moseley at the bottom of the Greene King IPA Championship.

It didn’t take Ealing Trailfinders long to find their stride and after a strong carry from James Cordy-Redden gave them good field position, Nottingham were penalised and Bentley stroked over the first of his penalties.

Soon after Cordy-Redden set up Daniels for the first of his tries with a clever grubber down the wing that the fullback swooped on to race away for a score that Bentley converted.

Nottingham kept their poise though and with Dan Mugford pulling the strings from fly-half and Darryl Veenendaal a lively presence at scrum-half they capitalised on a penalty to kick to touch and drive number eight Paul Grant over for his 18th try of the season.

Daniels scored his second after Bentley broke the line and set him free to race home to the corner, but Nottingham hit back when wing Pila Iongi powered his way down the right for their second try.

Ealing Trailfinders continued to keep up the pressure as the half wore down, but were unable to find a way through Nottingham’s defence. They then began the second half in the ascendancy, but again without adding to their score.

Nottingham drew to within a point after referee Dean Richards awarded a penalty try for collapsing a rolling maul. The hosts continued to build pressure, but first Alun Walker and then Arthur Ellis swooped on loose line-out throws to help clear the danger.

Former Ealing Trailfinders fullback Billy Robinson nearly set Iongi up for his second try, but his grubber kick ran dead and then when an Ellis run took the visitors up to Nottingham’s line it was the home side’s turn to steal a vital line-out at a crucial moment.

Eight minutes from time Grant was driven over for his second try of the night to earn the home side the four-try bonus, but when they tried again Ealing Trailfinders’ defence forced the Nottingham forwards into a knock-on.

From the scrum on their line substitute scrum-half Tom Trotter organised his forwards to run the clock down and then kick to touch to ensure that Ealing Trailfinders didn’t leave the East Midlands empty-handed.

Scorers
Nottingham
Tries (Daniels 7, 18), Conversions (Bentley 8), Penalties (Bentley 4, 16)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Grant 11, 72 Iongi 14, Penalty 48), Conversions (Mugford 49)

Nottingham
Billy Robinson, Pila Iongi, Joe Cobden, Heath Stevens, Sam Coghlan Murray, Dan Mugford, Darryl Veenendaal; Kieran Davies, Jon Vickers, Tom Heard, Rupert Cooper, Toby Freeman, Rob Langley, Matt Everard (C), Paul Grant
Reserves
TJ Harris, Harry Morley, Conor Carey, George Cox, Murray McConnell, Lawrence Rayner, Ben Woods

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Tom Wheatcroft, James Cordy-Redden, Jonny Bentley, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Alex Penny, Paul Spivey, Adam Preocanin, Iain Grieve, Arthur Ellis, Chris York (captain)
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Karl Gibson, Nathan Buck, Carwyn Jones, Llewelyn Jones, Tom Trotter, Ben Ward

Referee – Dean Richards
Attendance – 2, 300

Ealing Trailfinders vs London Welsh

Ealing Trailfinders held their nerve as the clocked ticked down to take play from their try-line to the London Welsh 22 where Jonny Bentley scored a penalty to earn Ben Ward’s side a losing bonus point.

It means that Ealing Trailfinders stretch the gap over Moseley to three points at the bottom of the Greene King IPA Championship with three matches remaining.

London Welsh made the early running and a Ryan Glynn chip nearly set Ryan Hodson up for a try, but Carwyn Jones made an important tackle on the line. Even so Hodson made the breakthrough soon after when he was the end of a driven line-out.

Alex Walker stopped Josh Drauniniu after the Exiles’ winger had broken free, but from another catch and drive Nathan Trevett dotted down and Drauniniu then added Welsh’s third when he capitalised on a favourable bounce from Seb Jewell’s kick through.

Ealing continued their policy of keeping the ball in hand and they eventually had their reward just before half-time when fullback Luke Daniels set debutant James Cordy-Redden free to score.

After half-time the wind continued to thwart both teams’ ambitions to play with the ball in-hand, but Ward knocked over a penalty after 51 minutes to bring Ealing into bonus point territory. Bentley scored his first penalty soon after coming off the bench to close the deficit to only two points.

The Kiwi missed the chance to put the hosts in the lead for the first time when he pulled another penalty wide and after Welsh won a penalty from a scrum they went on the attack for the first time in the half and eventually Trevett went over for his second try of the match.

Barkley’s conversion left Ealing chasing a bonus point. As the clock ticked down Will Davis broke the Welsh line to take them into their 22 and when the Exiles offended one last time Bentley made no mistake.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Cordy-Redden 36), Conversions (Ward 36), Penalties (Ward 51, Bentley 62, 80)
London Welsh
Tries (Hodson 9, Trevett 21, 77 Drauniniu 28), Conversions (Bentley 77)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Tom Wheatcroft, James Cordy-Redden, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Iain Grieve, Arthur Ellis, Chris York
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Karl Gibson, Nathan Buck, Paul Spivey, Llewelyn Jones, James Love, Jonny Bentley

London Welsh
Chris Elder, Nic Reynolds, Guy Armitage, Seb Jewell, Josh Drauniniu, Ollie Barkley, Ryan Glynn; Nathan Trevett, Nathan Morris, Jack Gilding, Josh McNally, Ben West, Will Skuse, Ryan Hodson (captain), Kieran Murphy
Reserves
Koree Britton, Eddie Aholelei, Ben Cooper, Matt Corker, Ben Pienaar, Josh Davies, Joe Carlisle

Referee – Greg McDonald
Attendance – 802
STORM Matches Man of the Match – Arthur Ellis

Bedford Blues vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders found themselves on the end of a second-half Bedford Blues comeback to leave Goldington Road without a point having enjoyed the best of the first half.

Ben Ward’s side led 24-7 at half-time, but Mike Rayer’s team showed why they are among the play-off hopefuls by opening up after the break to run in four tries to leave with the spoils.

It means Ealing Trailfinders remain two points above Moseley in the bottom two places of the Greene King IPA Championship.

The Blues took the early initiative when they ran in the first try after two minutes. Centre Tom Griffiths broke the Ealing Trailfinders line and off-loaded to fullback Piers O’Conor for a simple run-in, that fly-half Myles Dorrian converted.

Adam Preocanin claimed the restart and it allowed Ealing Trailfinders some time to build some pressure on the Bedford line and eventually Ben Ward knocked over a conversion for Ealing Trailfinders’ first points of the day.

The pack continued to flex their muscles and after they won a penalty from a scrum, Preocanin caught the line-out and Arthur Ellis was driven over for a try that Ward converted.

Again Ealing Trailfinders took control from the restart and swept forward into Bedford territory. Luke Daniels had a dart, as did Danny Barnes, before Ward and Toby Howley-Berridge combined to set Rhys Crane up for his seventh try in four matches.

The third followed soon after when Daniels sliced through the Bedford defence with his pace, ignored an overlap and cut inside to outpace Bedford wing Pat Tapley to reach the line.

Ellis continued to make a nuisance of himself around the field and ensured a string of penalties and turnover ball from excellent work at the breakdown. Meanwhile Preocanin and Carwyn Jones were bossing the line-out and going through a truckload of work in the loose.

Nonetheless the hosts began to claw their way back into the match but after securing lineout possession close to the Ealing Trailfinders line Josh Buggea mistimed his run and Phil Chesters was able to secure the ball for Ward to clear to touch.

Bedford came out strongly in the second half and after another Griffiths break set up camp in the visitor’s 22, but again the Ealing Trailfinders pack reclaimed the ball against the head at a scrum and Daniels relieved the initial pressure.

Jonny Bentley hit the post with a penalty, but it was the hosts who grabbed the first points of the second period when number eight Joel Conlon rounded off a sweeping move to gallop home for the Blues second try.

Bedford continued to try to play with pace and verve and again Ealing Trailfinders’ defence had to stay strong to defend a driving maul, with Iain Grieve using his power to the fore.

Eventually Bedford’s power paid off when former Ealing Trailfinders player Camillo Parilli-Ocampo drove over from close range, which along with Jake Sharp’s conversion closed the gap to three points.

The try filled the hosts with confidence and from another Griffiths break Dean Adamson was able to run in Bedford’s fourth try to regain the lead and at the very end veteran lock Paul Tupai was driven over.

Scorers
Bedford Blues
Tries (O’Connor 2, Conlon 52, Parilli-Ocampo 67, Adamson 75, Tupai 79), Conversions (Dorrian 2, 52, Sharp 68, Tupai)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Ellis 15, Crane 21, Daniels 26), Conversions (Ward 16, 22, 26 ), Penalties (Ward 8)

Bedford Blues
Piers O’Conor, Pat Tapley, Michael Le Bourgeois (captain), Tom Griffiths, Dean Adamson, Myles Dorrian, Henry Taylor; Alex Lundberg, Charlie Clare, Biyi Alo, Joe Latta, Mike Howard, Justin Blanchet, Josh Buggea, Joel Conlon
Reserves
Sam James, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, James Currie, Paul Tupai, Jordan Burns, Jake Sharp, Henry Staff

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Toby Howley-Berridge, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Iain Grieve, Arthur Ellis, Chris York
Reserves
Karl Gibson, Sam Rodman, Harrison Orr, Danny Kenny, Callum Wilson, Alex Davies, Jonny Bentley

Referee – Dean Richards
Attendance – 2, 082

Ealing Trailfinders vs Moseley

Ealing Trailfinders ran in seven tries and lifted themselves off the bottom of the Greene King IPA Championship with a highly impressive win over their relegation rivals.

The victory lifts Ealing Trailfinders off the bottom of the table and above the Birmingham side by two points.

Luke Daniels was the STORM Watches man of the match, but there were any number within Ben Ward’s team who could have been given the award, not least Rhys Crane who ran in four tries.

It didn’t take long for the scoring to start when Moseley fly-half Charlie Foley knocked over a first minute penalty.

Ealing Trailfinders maintained their composure and the ball in hand while playing into the wind and Phil Chesters was unfortunate not to finish a counter-attack when the ball failed to bounce his way after a chip ahead.

Moseley stretched their lead further when Adam Caves was driven over, but Ward’s first penalty calmed nerves and a minute later his break set Daniels free and he gave Chesters a straight-forward run-in.

Crane then grabbed his first off another Daniels break and with the fullback converting both tries, the match had been turned on its head in the blink of an eye.

With so much riding on the result Moseley regrouped and after kicking a penalty to touch Craig Voisey added their second to close the deficit to two points at half-time.

A thumping Howley-Berridge tackle on Aaron Flagg opened up the second half and moments later Ward’s scored his second penalty.

The hosts used the wind assiduously and after pressuring the Moseley line Adam Preocanin popped up on Alex Walker’s shoulder to stroll over and with Ward off, Jonny Bentley continued their flawless kicking ratio.

Crane secured the four-try bonus point and then the Ealing Trailfinders defence stood firm as a Moseley tried another rolling maul before Darren Hudson knocked on with the line at his mercy.

A scrum-move set Crane up for his hat-trick and then he picked a line off Bentley to make it four.

As the clock ran down Chesters broke free, but George Watkins pulled him back and Andrew Small had little choice but to award a penalty try that Bentley converted to bring the curtain down on a match that will take Ealing Trailfinders to Bedford in good heart next Saturday.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Chesters 25, Crane 28, 54, 70, 76 Preocanin 47, penalty 79), Conversions (Daniels 26, 28 Bentley 48, 54, 70, 76, 79), Penalties (Ward 24, 41)
Moseley
Tries (Caves 21, Voisey 37), Conversions (Foley 37), Penalties (Foley 1)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Toby Howley-Berridge, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Llewelyn Jones, Arthur Ellis, Chris York
Reserves
Karl Gibson, Sam Rodman, Jamie Kilbane, Danny Kenny, Iain Grieve, Alex Davies, Jonny Bentley

Moseley
Darren Hudson, Kyle Evans, Greg King, Tom Molenaar, George Watkins, Charlie Foley, Sam Brown; Craig Voisey, Adam Caves, Simon Gardiner, Greg Charlton, Harry Casson, Aaron Flagg, Ed Siggery, Chris Brightwell (captain)
Reserves
Sam Raven, Scott Tolmie, Tom Fidler, Ben Nutley, Tom Stephenson, David Brazier, Scott Armstrong

Referee – Andrew Small
Attendance – 626
STORM Watches man of the match – Luke Daniels

Bristol Rugby vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders were unable to claim any points on their trip to face league leaders Bristol, who put in a clinical display to underline their status as promotion favourites.

Phil Chesters and Rhys Crane scored tries for the second week running, but Bristol’s powerful pack gave them the edge over the 80 minutes and supplied their back-line with plentiful ball to play with under the lights of Ashton Gate.

It didn’t take the hosts long to start the scoring and captain Ollie Robinson was driven over from a line-out after two minutes that Gavin Henson converted to give Andy Robinson’s side the early advantage.

Ealing Trailfinders responded with attacks of their own and Harrison Orr and Chesters nearly capitalised on clever Ben Ward chips over the defence, but when the play went up the other end of the field, Henson knocked over a penalty to stretch Bristol’s lead.

Robinson nearly added a second but knocked on following a rolling maul, but after a flowing back-line move Ben Mosses dived over in the corner and he added a second soon after to put the hosts in sight of a four-try bonus point halfway through the first half.

The visitors finally broke out of their half and as half-time drew near began to build some momentum. Eventually good hands from Rhys Lawrence and Adam Preocanin set Chesters free to round Tom Varndell to score in the corner, but while they continued to press as the half wore on they were unable to find another breakthrough.

After half-time Bristol didn’t waste any time putting the result out of reach. First Varndell cut in off his wing to pop up on Henson’s shoulder to race home and then Charlie Amesbury did the same off the left wing.

By then their forwards had clearly had enough of the backs dominating the scoring, so drove Ross McMillan over from another line-out take.

Crane went over in the corner just after the 60-minute mark after Alex Penny and George Porter had come close. It gave Ealing Trailfinders some hope of a four-try bonus point, but it was Bristol who added to the scoring.

First former Ealing Trailfinders loanee Max Crumpton was driven over and then Welsh international Matthew Morgan came off the bench to break the line and catch his chip ahead to round off the night for the hosts.

Scorers
Bristol
Tries (Robinson (2), Mosses (2), Varndell, Amesbury, McMillan, Crumpton, Morgan), Conversions (Henson (6), Penalties (Henson (2)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Chesters, Crane)

Bristol
Luke Arscott, Tom Varndell, Jack Tovey, Ben Mosses, Charlie Amesbury, Gavin Henson, Will Cliff, Jack O’Connell, Marc Jones, Gaston Cortes, Ian Evans, Joe Joyce, James Phillips, Olly Robinson (captain), Mitch Eadie
Reserves
Ross McMillan, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Glen Townson, Max Crumpton, Martin Roberts, Matthew Morgan, Ryan Edwards

Ealing Trailfinders
Sam Stanley, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Toby Howley-Berridge, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence, Sam Rodman, Llewelyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Harrison Orr, Arthur Ellis, Danny Kenny (captain)
Reserves
George Porter, Karl Gibson, Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Chris York, Tom Trotter, Callum Wilson

Attendance – 5, 517
Referee – Steve Lee

Ealing Trailfinders vs Doncaster Knights

Ealing Trailfinders secured two vital points against the second-placed team in the Greene King IPA Championship to open a one-point gap above Moseley at the bottom of the table.

Ben Ward’s side began on the offensive and quickly showed signs that they were happy to take on the Yorkshire side physically. It soon paid dividends when Toby Howley-Berridge set Phil Chesters free down the left and the flying wing scored his first try of 2016 with nine minutes on the clock.

The west London side continued to dominate, but were unable to find a way through the Knights’ defence despite having the wind at their backs.

Eventually Clive Griffiths’ side began to build some momentum and as the half wore on their pack began to take a grip on proceedings. With five minutes left number eight Ollie Steadman powered over from close range and on the stroke of half-time prop Richard List stretched their lead to 12-5 at the break.

They continued to dominate once the teams returned after half-time, but stalemate descended on the match; Doncaster Knights attacked and Ealing Trailfinders defended and that is how it continued for the first 20 minutes of the second half.

The hosts struggled to find any respite from the assault on their line, but a counter-attack just after the hour mark resulted in Rhys Crane wiggling over from close range after he had come close from the original breakout.

Another counter then put Ealing Trailfinders back into the lead. Ward prodded a grubber through the Doncaster defence, Chesters kicked ahead and centre Danny Barnes had the simple job of touching down.

Doncaster weren’t finished and after Ealing Trailfinders’ defence repelled a number of their attacks, eventually Steadman drove over for his second score. They finished the match in the ascendancy, but Alex Walker flung himself in front of Simon Humberstone’s drop-goal attempt to ensure that there was no last-gasp twist to an absorbing 80 minutes of action.

Ealing Trailfinders now travel to league leaders Bristol on Friday evening, while Moseley host Rotherham Titans, who currently sit in 10th, six points ahead of the west London side.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Chesters 9, Crane 61, Barnes 68), Conversions (Ward 61)
Doncaster Knights
Tries (Steadman 35, 74, List 40), Conversions (Humberstone 36)

Ealing Trailfinders
Sam Stanley, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Toby Howley-Berridge, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Iain Grieve, Arthur Ellis, Chris York (captain)
Reserves
George Porter, Rhys Lawrence, Sam Rodman, Llewelyn Jones, Danny Kenny, Andy Reay, Callum Wilson

Doncaster Knights
Paul Jarvis, Andy Bulumakau Mat Clark, Will Hurrell, Tyson Lewis, Simon Humberstone, Michael Heaney; Richard List, Ben Hunter, Colin Quigley, Matt Challinor (captain), Jon Phelan, Latu Makaafi, Alex Shaw, Ollie Stedman
Reserves
Ted Stagg, Joe Sproston, WillGriff John, Tyler Hotson, Will Owen, Ollie Bryant, Brad Field

Referee – Andrew Small
Attendance – 425
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Alex Walker

Cornish Pirates vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders endured a frustrating afternoon at the Mennaye Field, where they fell short of claiming a losing bonus point against a Cornish Pirates team that has now enjoyed 10 wins from their last 11 matches.

Alex Bradley, Harrison Orr and Iain Grieve all crossed for Ben Ward’s side, but it was the home side who made better use of the wet and windy conditions to take four of the five points on offer.

The home side started the stronger and two penalties from fly-half Lawrence May gave them the early impetus. May and his namesake Toby May were happy to use the wind to send a series of up and under kicks towards Ealing Trailfinders full-back James Love and wings Rhys Crane and James Stephenson to build pressure, but Ealing Trailfinders’ defence held out after the early onslaught.

Eventually the visitors forced their way down the field and after Danny Barnes was unable to touch down Tristan Roberts’ grubber kick, the pack drove Alex Bradley over for his third try in two matches.

Cornish Pirates again used the conditions well and Toby May swooped on a loose ball to score the home side’s opening try of the match and while they pushed hard for a third, Ealing Trailfinders captain Rhys Lawrence twice stopped them; first he swooped on an overthrown line-out and then he ripped the ball from a rolling maul as the Pirates pack began to rumble ominously towards the Ealing Trailfinders line.

May scored his third penalty of the half to keep the host’s score ticking over, but it was the visitors who ended on the offensive.

They carried on in the same vein at the start of the second period, but they were unable to capitalise on good field position. Eventually the hosts cleared their lines and went on the attack which finished with hooker Robert Elloway going over for their second try.

Orr hit back soon after when he linked up with reserve hooker Alun Walker at the front of the line to plunge over for a simple try, but the Pirates again stretched the lead when wing Kyle Moyle cut in through the centre to score between the posts.

Grieve scored from another rolling maul with less than five minute on the clock and despite keeping the ball alive as the clock ran down they were unable to find a way through the hosts swarming and fierce defence.

Scorers
Cornish Pirates
Tries (May 21, Elloway 61, Moyle 73), Conversions (May 21, 61, 73), Penalties (May 4, 9, 35)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Bradley 15, Orr 64, Grieve 76)

Cornish Pirates
Toby May, Arnott, Riley, Hendricksen, Moyle, Lawrence May, Townsend; Walker, Elloway, Paver, McGlong, Beukeboom, Parker, Simmonds, Carpenter (captain)
Reserves
Channon, Andrew, Gendall, Cheeseman, Duncan, Day, Hallett

Ealing Trailfinders
James Love, James Stephenson, Danny Barnes, Joe Munro, Rhys Crane, Tristan Roberts, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Michael Holford, Llewelyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Iain Grieve, Alex Bradley, Chris York
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Alun Walker, Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Harrison Orr, Alex Davies, Toby Howley-Berridge

Referee – John Meredith
Attendance – 1, 348

Ealing Trailfinders vs Yorkshire Carnegie

Ealing Trailfinders were unable to stage a late rally to finish with a four-try bonus point against a powerful and well-drilled Yorkshire Carnegie side.

Callum Wilson, James Stephenson and Alun Walker scored tries and Alex Davies slotted four penalties and a conversion for Director of Coaching Ben Ward’s side, who remain one place off the bottom of the Greene King IPA Championship on points difference from Moseley.

It didn’t take Yorkshire to take a grip on the match and after Kevin Sinfield pushed an early penalty wide, fullback Jonah Holmes slipped through the Ealing defence to touch down between the posts.

They continued to dominate after Sinfield had broken the line, he slipped the ball to Andy Saull to race through for their second.

Ealing Trailfinders didn’t capitulate and Alex Davies knocked over a penalty on 34 minutes to ensure they wouldn’t go in pointless at half-time and the scrum-half added a second just before the break.

The hosts continued their good form immediately into the second half. Harrison Orr broke the line and when the ball went wide Callum Wilson powered over in the corner.

Davis drew the hosts level with a penalty from the halfway line, but the visitors him back almost immediately through their pack to win a penalty-try and while Davies slotted his fourth penalty David Doherty swept on a loose kick by Pete Lucock to secure the four-try bonus point.

Another penalty-try stretched Yorkshire’s lead further, but Ealing Trailfinders hit back through James Stephenson despite being down to 13 men at the time.

Ryan Burrow’s driven try and Doherty’s second appeared to end the contest, but after Alun Walker was driven over with a minute to go the home side scented a four-try bonus point of their own, but ultimately were unable to get through the Yorkshire defence for a fourth time.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Wilson 43, Stephenson 71, Alun Walker 79), Conversions (Davies 71), Penalties (Davies 34, 38, 47, 55)
Yorkshire Carnegie
Tries (Holmes 7, Saull 19, Penalty 50, 68 Doherty 57, 76, Burrows 73), Conversions (Sinfield 7, 19, 50, 58, 68)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Callum Wilson, Danny Barnes, Joe Munro, James Stephenson, Tristan Roberts, Alex Davies; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence, Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Llewelyn Jones, Harrison Orr, Arthur Ellis, Chris York
Reserves
George Porter, Alun Walker, Sam Rodman, Nathan Hannay, Danny Kenny, Alex Walker, Will Harries

Yorkshire Carnegie
Jonah Holmes, Taylor Prell, Pete Lucock, Harry Leonard, David Doherty, Kevin Sinfield, Chris Pilgrim; Lee Imiolek, Phil Nilsen, Rob O’Donnell, Dean Schofield, Chris Jones (captain), Richard Beck, Andy Saull, Ryan Burrows
Reserves
Jordan Poole, Charlie Beech, Ben Hooper, Matt Smith, Mike Myerscough, Joel Hodgson, Andy Forsyth

Attendance – 621
Referee – Matt O’Grady

London Scottish vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders ended their run of six defeats with a drama-filled win over London Scottish that moves them off the bottom of the Greene King IPA Championship table.

After a tepid first half the match opened up after half-time and by the end both teams were flinging themselves at each other, London Scottish as they chased the win and Ealing Trailfinders as they sought to hang onto their bonus-point victory.

Alex Bradley score twice, Adam Preocanin ran in his first of the season and Luke Daniels also touched down, while Alex Davies scored all four conversions for Director of Coaching Ben Ward’s team in front of a bumper crowd of 1, 260 at the Athletic Ground.

A loose kick to touch two minutes in allowed Ealing Trailfinders to take the early initiative when Bradley was driven over from Carwyn Jones’ catch, but the Exiles were soon on the scoreboard when Rory Hughes picked up from a ruck and raced home.

Hughes nearly escaped for a second from a set-piece move in the Scottish backs, but Ealing Trailfinders fullback Daniels came up with a try-saving tackle five yards out.

It marked a rare highlight in a first-half that was dominated by two teams happy to boot the ball into the air, either side of packing down for seemingly never-ending scrums or clearing up badly thrown line-outs.

Eventually Ealing Trailfinders broke through the mediocrity when former Scottish player Preocanin cantered home after Callum Wilson had broken the Scottish defence with a powerful run.

The visitors added their third one minute after the restart when Daniels raced onto Alex Davies’s long kick and enjoyed the bounce of the ball to race in.

Scottish hit back with some ferocious play, but Ealing Trailfinders captain Rhys Lawrence secured a vital turnover to allow Davies to clear just as Scottish were threatening the visitor’s line.

Peter Lydon slotted a penalty for the hosts and it had the requisite effect of lifting their spirits and shortly afterwards Chris Walker dived over after George Horne’s nimble feet had found a way through the Ealing Trailfinders defence.

Once again though the visitors struck next when Bradley ran hard off Davies to dive over from close range and secure the bonus point.

Scottish responded with a try from Oli Grove to set up a grandstand final 10 minutes. Davies was sent to the sin-bin, but a well-timed Preocanin line-out steal and James Stephenson intercept allowed Ealing Trailfinders to clear their lines.

Daniels again saved Ealing Trailfinders after Horne had crossed the line. Scottish were penalised at the scrum, but Ealing Trailfinders failed to clear their half yet again. It summed up the frantic mind-set that gripped both teams as the clock ran down.

There was one last chance for the Exiles, but as they tried to drive over from a line-out they were penalised for a truck and trailer and from the resulting scrum Ealing Trailfinders number eight Chris York broke and when the ball came back Alex Walker hammered it to safety.

Scorers
London Scottish
Tries (Hughes 9, Walker 54, Grove 69), Conversions (Lydon 54, Lydon 69), Penalties (Lydon 48)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Bradley 4, 57 Preocanin 36, Daniels 41), Conversions (Davies 4, 36, 41, 57)

London Scottish
Peter Lydon, Jason Harries, Robbie Fergusson, Oli Grove, Rory Hughes, Dan Newton, George Horne; James Gibbons, Adam Kwasnicki, Matt Shields, Neale Patrick, Will Carrick Smith, Mark Bright (captain), Chris Walker, Freddie Clarke
Reserves
Jack Cosgrove, David Cherry, Geoff Cross, Rory Bartle, Tyrone Moran, Matt Heeks, Lee Millar

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Callum Wilson, Sam Stanley, Joe Munro, James Stephenson, Tristan Roberts, Alex Davies; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Michael Holford, Carwyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Harrison Orr, Alex Bradley, Chris York
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Alun Walker, Sam Rodman, Llewelyn Jones, Arthur Ellis, Alex Walker, Will Harries

Referee – Andrew Jackson
Attendance – 1, 260

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