Ealing Trailfinders secured their third pre-season victory in a row with a blistering second-half performance under the Friday Night Lights at Trailfinders Sports Club to beat Hartpury 62-19.
Despite trailing for extended periods in the first half, tries from Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Ehize Ehizode, Ollie Newman, Tom Collins, Geordie Gwynn, Geroge Shaw and doubles from both Craig Hampson and Cam Terry led Trailfinders to a comfortable victory.
The visitors started well with a strong line break from centre Robbie Smith, taking his side into the danger zone. After a few quick phases, the try was finished off by Mike Austin, earning them a very early lead.
With their foot on the gas and fly-half Harry Bazalgate controlling the flow of play nicely, Hartpury looked extremely dangerous in the early excursions, bringing a high tempo to the game with the ball in hand.
However, that tempo was quickly stifled after a flying solo try from Bird-Tulloch, who, after an outrageous offload from Jordy Reid, was able to blitz past multiple defenders and bring Trailfinders level.
The visitors quickly responded, scoring another try within a matter of minutes, with Austin poaching another one from short range.
Ealing Trailfinders were struggling to find any consistency, making too many mistakes and giving up possession back to the visitors who continued to knock at the door.
They converted their pressure with another try from a driving maul try with captain Will Crane, the beneficiary.
Trailfinders were running the risk of letting the game slip away; however, with a penalty advantage behind them, Hampson darted over to close the gap on the scoreboard.
Just short of half-time, Trailfinders started to look to be the team we have seen all preseason as a quick ball from the lineout provided the momentum over the gain line and, after a move down the blindside, they scored another try courtesy of hooker Terry.
Half-Time- Ealing Trailfinders 17-19 Hartpury RFC
Trailfinders came out of the sheds firing; Hartpury knocked on the ball at the restart, allowing the hosts to launch an early attacking set in the danger zone, and it was Terry once again who went over the line, taking them into the lead for the first time in the game.
The boys in green and white were on fire, finally finding their flow in attack with a beautiful line cut by Matas Jurevicus finding space and a wonderful offload to Hampson on a typical trailing line allowed him to dot down under the posts.
It was followed by yet another absolute scorcher of a try, with Ehizode making it look easy, cutting a brilliant line and going over for a try himself.
The hosts were making it look easy by securing yet another seven-pointer. It was all down to the work of the forwards, who earned a scrum penalty leading to a dominant driving maul, which demolished the Hartpury pack, and Newman went over at the tail.
The maul was proving a useful weapon, and Trailfinders struck again, setting the platform until Micheal Stronge darted down the blindside and delivered the ball to Collins on a plate to finish in the corner.
Stronge had come on the pitch determined to make an impact under the Friday night lights; he made a break from Trailfinders’ own five-metre line, darting up the pitch from coast to coast and opening up space everywhere he went. Eventually, he released Gwynn to finish the try in the far corner.
Just to put the finishing touches on a complete performance, Shaw got one more on the board to finish the game.
Trailfinders finish their preseason campaign with three victories and will look to take that momentum into the upcoming Championship season, that starts with Hartpury at home again.
Full-Time- Ealing Trailfinders 62-19 Hartpury RFC
Ealing Trailfinders:
Tries- Bird-Tulloch 15, Hampson 32, 48 Terry 38, 41, Ehizode 50, Newman 54, Collins 64, Gwynn 70, Shaw 79
Conversions- Worboys 33, Jones 42, 49, 51, 55, 80
Hartpury RFC:
Tries- Austin 2, 17; Crane 27
Conversions- Bazalgate 17, 27
