Match Report: Ealing Trailfinders vs Richmond
Ealing Trailfinders go two from two in Elior Champ Rugby after beating Richmond at Trailfinders Sports Club.
The game kicked-off with Richmond’s possession. Yet, a clean turnover from Trailfinders gave them attacking ball as the clock edged to the five minute mark.
Attacking ambition came from the home side from the get go. Though, momentum in the phases was initially stunted due to knock-ons. Trailfinders were only getting started.
A scoreless ten minutes saw for multiple scrums in a start-stop match. Trailfinders drew a penalty. James Humphreys kicked to the corner and Trailfinders had a lineout from halfway. The ball went to the left, in the hands of Francis Moore. Moore bolstered through Richmond defenders, eyes on the tryline. Diving over for the first score of the game, Moore’s try got Trailfinders on the scoreboard.
Trailfinders were coming away fruitful at set piece time. Mike Willemse threw another lineout as Fyn Brown gathered cleanly in the air. Trailfinders went straight into a maul. The ball went out to the right. Kyle Whyte carried straight, taking Richmond defenders with him. Recycled ball continue to move right. Toby Cousins had space on the wing, finding the gap through defenders to score a second try. James Humphreys added the conversion.
Richmond were down on the scoreboard but they definitely were not out. The opposition continued to use kicks into space to gain metres in the chase. A nudge from Matt Marsh was chased down by Richmond’s skipper Paddy Case. Case touched the ball down for Richmond’s first try before half-time.
Half-time: Ealing Trailfinders 17-5 Richmond
Humphreys kicked-off the restart. Richmond looked to close the score deficit early on. The visitors sought to draw their own penalties from scrum time and did so on the 48th minute. Richmond’s backs sent the ball out wide to the left wing to Sam Reynolds who ran in for Richmond’s second try. The conversion was successful.
Yet, Trailfinders struck back immediately. Deago Bailey, who had been hunting for a score all afternoon, beat four defenders to soar into the try area for the men in green’s third score. Humphreys added the extras.
Only twelve points set the two West London teams apart going into the final quarter.
Richmond were successful in narrowing the scoreboard with fifteen minutes to go as their forwards carried from short range. Harry Hocking was the recipient of the score.
Trailfinders went back to set piece play to regain control of the match. After returning from a nine-month rehab, Matt Cornish threw the lineout after coming off the bench. He got to the back of the maul to score the try. Rory Scannell added the extras in a dramatic kick that hit the inside of the left post and bounced inside.
The men in green won a crucial penalty with only three minutes left on the clock. A yellow card shown to Hocking continued to give Trailfinders the advantage as the game neared full-time.
Trailfinders opted for a tap and go, carrying from short range. It was a try for debutant Brown that saw out the match.
Full-time: Ealing Trailfinders 36-19 Richmond
Player of the Match: Francis Moore
