Ealing Trailfinders fell to a narrow 38-33 loss against Harlequins in Round Two of the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Tries from Tobi Wilson, Matt Cornish, Jordan Holgate and a brace from Tom Collins meant Trailfinders left Twickenham with two bonus points.
The result leaves Ealing Trailfinders second in Pool C with four group games left to play in the competition.
It was a superb start at The Stoop when Wilson crossed the whitewash. Trailfinders regained the kick-off and the ball was moved out to the right. Wilson found himself in space beat his man and finished well. The conversion just wide.
Harlequins didn’t leave it long to respond, getting themselves on the scoresheet inside the opening ten. Tom Lawday crashed over from the pick-and-go and Jamie Benson converted to give Quins a two-point lead.
Quins dominated the rest of the first quarter. Sean Lonsdale was sent to the sin bin after Trailfinders conceded successive penalties defending their own line, and Quins eventually broke down the defence as, Cameron Anderson walked in on the left hand side.
Harlequins thought they were in again just minutes later, however crossing at the back of the maul allowed Dan Jones to relieve some pressure, and gave Trailfinders possession in the opposition half for the first time since the opening two minutes.
Quins captain Lawday burst through the defence to setup the third of the night for Harlequins.
Wilson made the tackle five metres out, but he passed the ball up to Benson who scored and then converted his own score.
With just five minutes to go before the half-time whistle, a teasing kick was put over the top from Craig Hampson was carried into touch by Benson, creating a perfect attacking platform. Front foot ball off the lineout allowed Dan Jones to throw a delayed pass to Tom Collins who burst through to score the visitors’ second of the night. Jones added the extras.
Ealing Trailfinders were not ready for the break just yet. A well executed line out and a powerful rolling maul allowed Cornish to score and Dan Jones close the deficit to just two points.
Half-time: Harlequins 21 – 19 Ealing Trailfinders
Harlequins came out of the blocks firing in the second 40, converting some early pressure into a Penalty Try and it was a second yellow card of the night, this time for Will Montgomery.
The fourteen men of Ealing Trailfinders looked poised to strike back a minute later. A strong rolling maul got them from the 22 to just five metres out but an agonising handling error let them down. \
Kyle Whyte was then sent to the bin for a high shot, reducing Trailfinders to 13.
After a valiant defensive effort the hosts found a way through the Trailfinders defence with a two man advantage, Bryn Bradley offloaded to George Hammond who scored Quins’ fifth.
Ealing Trailfinders struck next with their bonus point try and it was Collins who had his second.
Another rolling maul set up a good platform. After Jordan Holgate and Reuben Bird-Tulloch came close it was Jones who passed to Collins juggling it over the line and diving over.
With just ten minutes on the clock and nine points down, it was crucial that Trailfinders were next on the scoresheet. A huge shove at scrum won a penalty for the visitors and the penalty came agonisingly back off the post. Moments later Quins slotted a penalty of their own.
In the final play, Trailfinders went in search of a final try and they found it through Jordan Holgate. A trick play at the line out sent the centre over untouched to secure a second bonus point for the visitors.
Full-time: Harlequins 38 – 33 Ealing Trailfinders
Harlequins:
Tries – Tom Lawday 8, Cameron Anderson 20, Jamie Benson 29, Penalty Try 44, George Hammond 52
Conversions – Jamie Benson 9 21 30 53
Penalties – Jamie Benson 79
Ealing Trailfinders:
Tries – Tobi Wilson 2, Tom Collins 36 58, Matt Cornish 40, Jordan Holgate 80
Conversions – Dan Jones 37 40 59, Craig Willis 80
Yellow Cards – Sean Lonsdale 17, Will Montgomery 44, Kyle Whyte 50
