Match Report: Ealing Trailfinders vs Hartpury
An electrifying eleven-try win for Ealing Trailfinders sees them back in top four of the table.
Hartpury looked to make an impact early on in the match. They found attacking rhythm in the opening minutes of the game but Trailfinders blitzed in defence, two defenders taking down the influx of Hartpury attack.
The men in red entered Trailfinders’ 22, opting to use the width. A yellow card was shown to Deago Bailey for what the referee Ben Simpson deemed as a deliberate knock-on.
A kick from Hartpury was charged down by Trailfinders. Rory Scannell kicked the ball downfield for him and fly-half Louie Johnson to chase. Trailfinders entered Hartpury’s 22 for the first time as the clock edged into five minutes.
Simpson awarded Trailfinders a penalty. Johnson kicked to the corner. Mike Willemse threw straight and true. The forwards gathered and shifted into a driving maul for Willemse to get on the back of it to touch down for the opening score. Johnson’s conversion flew wide of the posts.
The men in green continued with the momentum. Physical in attack, Jake Morris carried through Hartpury defenders after an inside pass from Craig Hampson to score on the left. Another wide conversion meant that Trailfinders were up by ten points after the ten minute mark.
A knock-on in Trailfinders attack gave Hartpury the advantage. They kicked to touch, threw the lineout from the hands of George Knowles. Hartpury drove their maul forward. Yet, Ealing Trailfinders continued to disrupt and forced the knock-on.
After winning the scrum in their 22, Trailfinders continued their wave of attack. A pass out to Toby Cousins who worked off his wing, then slicing down the pitch, he passed it Morris who continued the forward run. Hartpury regrouped in defence but it was too late. Changing direction, the ball shifted right to Will Montgomery who powered through a Hartpury defender to score. Johnson added the conversion.
Trailfinders’ dominance in the set piece continued as the men in green drew a scrum penalty on the edge of Hartpury’s 22 as the clock headed into the second quarter. Trailfinders opted for the kick to touch, lineout into a driving maul. Willemse regathered the ball and went down the outside channel to spin into the try area and score for try number two of the afternoon. Johnson added the conversion.
The attacking wave continued. Trailfinders found another break. Johnson saw the gap in front of him, slicing down the left-hand channel. With the support of Hampson behind him, Johnson passed inside. The ball made it’s way out to the wing where Jake Morris got his hands on the ball for a second score. Johnson added the extras.
Hartpury looked to gain some leverage on the match. Quick speed of ball saw Hartpury get back into Trailfinders’ 22. But three Ealing defenders wrapped Ollie Holiday up and dragged him into touch just short of the try area.
A sixth try came from the lineout gather platform, sent left. Quicks hands from Hampson, to Scannell, to Moore saw the outside centre soar over under the posts. Johnson added the extras.
Hartpury continued to hunt for a score and it came good when Robbie Smith sliced through. The conversion by Harry Bazalgette was successful.
Half-time: Ealing Trailfinders 38-7 Hartpury
Hartpury started quick, entering Trailfinders’ 22 in the opening minutes. Yet, a valiant defensive effort from the men in green relieved some of the pressure and gave Trailfinders an attacking lineout.
Yet, Hartpury were determined to continue clutching onto momentum in the third quarter. Carrying from short range, the men in red carried into a wall of green. Knowles threw a clean lineout but a knock-on ball in the maul gave Trailfinders the advantage once more.
Simpson showed a yellow card to Hartpury’s Ollie Holiday for a deliberate knock-on after Trailfinders passed the ball out wide. Scannell kicked the ball into touch to take Trailfinders past halfway.
A penalty was awarded to Trailfinders as Hartpury refused to let Bobby De Wee roll away. Johnson put the ball into the corner.
The men in green shifted left to right, with Toby Cousins touching down in the corner for a brilliant score under pressure from Hartpury’s defence. Johnson slotted the conversion.
Francis Moore got on the scoreboard a second time after an intercept from Johnson, passed to Scannell then Moore saw him get over for Trailfinders’ eighth try of the match. Johnson continued his run of successful conversions.
The visitors kept searching for another score but Trailfinders adapted well in defence to keep them from the try area. With fifteen minutes to go, Trailfinders won a scrum penalty in their 22 to continue to take off the pressure applied by Hartpury.
After coming off the bench, Kyle Hatherell looked to make his impact and quickly did. After Deago Bailey carried the ball close to the tryline, short range moves saw the ball in Hatherell’s hands who drove over for a ninth try for Trailfinders. Scannell’s conversion was just to the left of the posts.
Hayden Hyde got the tenth try for Trailfinders, scoring in the right corner after Trailfinders dodged Hartpury defenders. Scannell added the extras.
One try was not enough for Hyde. He got his hands on the ball once more and scored under the posts. Scannell added the conversion.
Full-time: Ealing Trailfinders 71-7 Hartpury
Player of the Match: Francis Moore
