2015-2016 Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club

Rotherham Titans vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders were unable to break their duck against Rotherham Titans as the South Yorkshire side ran in seven tries to secure their third win from three this season in the re-arranged British and Irish Cup match.

Nathan Buck scored Ealing Trailfinders’ only try and Academy flanker Tyler Bush came off the bench to make his debut in a fixture that was initially due to be played on 16 January, before the team had to turn around halfway up the M1 after the Clifton Lane pitch was deemed unplayable.

The result marked a winning start for their new Titans coach Justin Burnell and ended their run of 10 consecutive losses.

Ealing Trailfinders made a great start as Nathan Buck was driven over from a driving maul that Alex Davies converted to give the visitors a 7-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Rotherham wing Will Goodwin knocked a penalty off a post, but the host side continued to build their pressure and flanker Tom Calladine was driven over for a try that Goodwin converted to ensure the scores were level at half-time.

The hosts didn’t hang around to take control in the second half when wing Michael Keating swept on a loose ball to race in, with Goodwin adding the conversion. Calladine then scored his second and Goodwin his third conversion to stretch their lead further.

Before the hour mark Rotherham wrapped up a try bonus point when centre Will Owen collected the ball on the right hand side and galloped through. Two minutes later second row George Oram powered over and with Goodwin making it five from five from the tee the hosts had a lead of 35-7.

Rotherham Titans kept their foot on the accelerator as the match ran to its conclusion; first Josh Redfern crashed over in the corner following good work by the pack and then Willie Ryan hacked through to chase down and score the seventh Titans try.

Scorers
Rotherham Titans
Tries (Calladine 2, Keating, Owen, Redfearn, Ryan), Conversions (Goodwin 5)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Buck), Conversion (Davies)

Rotherham Titans
Sean Scanlon (captain), Michael Keating, Jordan Davies, Will Owen, Will Goodwin, James McKinney, Dan White, Robin Hislop, Darran Harris, Mark Tampin, Toby Salmon, George Oram, Willie Ryan, Tom Calladine, Josh Redfern
Reserves
Charlie Maddison, Toby Williams, Lewis Thiede, Jack Preece, Lloyd Hayes, Andy Davies, Luke Carter

Ealing Trailfinders
James Love, Callum Wilson, Sam Stanley, Joe Munro, James Stephenson, Tristan Roberts, Alex Davies; Jamie Kilbane, Karl Gibson, Nathan Buck, Nathan Hannay, Paul Spivey, Eoghan Grace, Alex Bradley, Danny Kenny (captain)
Reserves
George Porter, Matt Cornish, Michael Holford, Harrison Orr, Tyler Bush, Tom Trotter, Andy Reay

Referee – Jack Makepeace
Attendance – 618

Championship 2015-2016 Ashton Gate Stadium

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

Championship 2015-2016 Trailfinders Sports Club

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

Championship 2015-2016 Mennaye Field

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

British and Irish Cup 2015-2016 Trailfinders Sports Club

Ealing Trailfinders vs Moseley

Ealing Trailfinders ran in three tries against Moseley in their third meeting of the season, but ultimately five tries for the West Midlanders made the difference.

New signing Jonny Bentley was handed his first start and he gave the Vallis Way crowd an early glimpse of his quality by breaking the Moseley line, though he was unable to find James Stephenson with a grubber kick.

Moseley started in equally energetic mood as they chased a place in the quarter-finals. Centre Greg King came close to opening the scoring before he was bundled into touch, but moments later captain Chris Brightwell touched down in the corner.

Alex Davies knocked over his first penalty shortly afterwards and he and Hughes exchanged penalties before Alex Bradley was driven over from close range to give Ealing Trailfinders the lead for the first time.

Joe Munro then made a slashing break that Danny Barnes was unable to gather with the line beckoning, but Ben Ward’s team maintained the pressure without breaching the Moseley line.

As half-time drew close Moseley scored their second try when Greg Charlton barged over from close-range to give the visitors the lead at the break.

They extended their lead soon after half-time when wing Drew Cheshire danced his way through the home defence for Moseley’s third before Sam Stanley narrowly missed out on scoring the home team’s second try when he followed up his own up and under.

Moseley continued to hammer Ealing Trailfinders’ line and while the home defence held out their forwards Cheshire ran in his second of the match to secure the four-try bonus point.

Another Bentley run broke the Moseley line and he was able to pop the ball to Stephenson for a simple run-in, but the visitors scored next when Greg King cut a sharp angle through the home side’s defence.

Bradley was driven over for his second try to set up a thrilling last 10 minutes but neither side was able to add to the scoring as the match drew to a close.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Bradley 21, 71 Stephenson 57), Conversions (Davies 21, Bentley 57, 71), Penalties (Davies 13, 19)
Moseley
Tries (Brightwell 10, Charlton 35, Cheshire 42, 53, King 66), Conversions (Hughes 10, 35, Foley 66), Penalties (Hughes 16)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Callum Wilson, Danny Barnes, Joe Munro, James Stephenson, Jonny Bentley, Alex Davies; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Nathan Buck, Llewelyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Harrison Orr, Alex Bradley, Chris York
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Karl Gibson, Alex Penny, Paul Spivey, Iain Grieve, Alex Walker, Sam Stanley

Moseley
Mike Penn, Kyle Evans, Greg King, Aaron Pinches, Drew Cheshire, Glyn Hughes, Dave Brazier; Tom Fidler, Adam Caves, Aaron Gardiner, Harris Casson, Greg Charlton, Aaron Flagg, Ed Siggery, Chris Brightwell (captain)
Reserves
Tom Warren, Craig Voisey, Scott Tolmie, Jordan Onojaife, Harry Hone, Charles Foley, Sam Brown

Referee – Fergus Kirby
Attendance – 456

Championship 2015-2016 Trailfinders Sports Club

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

Championship 2015-2016 Athletic Ground

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

British and Irish Cup 2015-2016 Trailfinders Sports Club

Ealing Trailfinders vs Leinster

Ealing Trailfinders ran in two tries against an impressive Leinster A side, who continued their unbeaten British and Irish Cup form by running in five tries at Vallis Way.

James Stephenson and Carwyn Jones crossed the line for Ben Ward’s team, but a hat-trick from Dan Leavy helped the 2013 winners to victory.

With both teams used to playing on 3G pitches there was a frenetic opening period with the Irish side in particular aiming to move the ball wide as soon as possible. They missed a great opportunity to open the scoring on five minutes when Tadhg Beirne opted to pass inside despite Cian Kelleher being free outside him.

Shortly after though Leinster A opened the scoring when Adam Byrne stepped through a gap after Ross Molony had won lineout, but Ealing Trailfinders hit back immediately when Stephenson forced his way over in the corner.

Leinster A continued to strengthen their grip on proceedings and Leavy scored a second try when he was driven over from a line-out. They were only denied a third when Byrne was unable to control his kick-through over the line, but Mick McGrath escaped down the left wing soon after.

The hosts stuck to their game plan and enjoyed a good period as the half came to a close, but were unable to find a way through the blue-shirted defence.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first with both teams trying to stretch the play, but with defences continuing to stay on top. Eventually Leinster A made the breakthrough when Leavy scored his second in similar style to his first from a driven line-out.

A Joe Munro kick through on 55 minutes gave Ealing Trailfinders good field position, but again they were unable to take advantage. A powerful Stephenson hit on Byrne lifted the team, but again it was Leinster who came closest to adding to the score when captain Peadar Timmins knocked on over the line.

Leavy was denied a hat-trick when he was held up from another driven line-out and good work from Adam Preocanin secured the turn-over. After clearing their half Alex Bradley’s charge took the hosts to within touching distance of the try-line and eventually Jones drove over from close range.

Leinster A immediately hit back when Leavy was driven over for his third and they comfortably closed the match out to ensure a happy flight back over the Irish Sea.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Stephenson 12, Jones 69)
Leinster A
Tries (Byrne 9, Leavy 22, 48, 73 McGrath 29), Conversions (Marsh 9, 22, 29, 73), Penalties (Marsh 16)

Ealing Trailfinders
James Love, Callum Wilson, Sam Stanley, Joe Munro, James Stephenson, Tristan Roberts, Alex Davies; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Harrison Orr, Alex Bradley, Chris York
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Karl Gibson, Sam Rodman, Danny Kenny, Arthur Ellis, Alex Walker, Luke Daniels

Leinster A
Cian Kelleher, Adam Byrne, Collie O’Shea, Tom Daly, Mick McGrath, Cathal Marsh, Charlie Rock; Peter Dooley, Bryan Byrne, Oisin Heffernan, Tadhg Beirne, Ross Molony, Josh Murphy, Dan Leavy, Peadar Timmins (captain)
Reserves
Aaron Dundon, Jeremy Loughman, David O’Connor, Tony Ryan, Matthew D’Arcy, Steve Crosbie, Ian Fitzpatrick

Referee – Dan Jones

Attendance – 804

British and Irish Cup 2015-2016 Donnybrook Stadium

Leinster vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders suffered their third loss in the British and Irish Cup when 2013 winners Leinster A ran in seven tries in an impressive performance at Donnybrook.

Chris York scored a late try for Ben Ward’s side to ensure they left Ireland with something to show for their efforts before the Dubliners travel to Vallis Way for the reciprocal fixture on 19 December.

Leinster A began in the ascendancy on the 3G synthetic surface on a dry night at Donnybrook, but powerful joint tackles from Phil Chesters and Carwyn Jones and York and Sam Stanley showed that the visitors were prepared to match the home side’s intensity.

Six minutes in though Leinster A fly-half Cathal Marsh knocked over the opening points with a penalty, but after Ealing Trailfinders began to build some pressure of their own, Alex Davies drew them level from the kicking tee after the returning Joe Munro had come close to scoring the opening try of the match.

The teams continued to take it in turns to take the ascendancy in attack and Marsh and Davies added another penalty apiece, but with the second half drawing in Leinster A prop Peter Dooley drove over from close range for the first try of the match.

Ealing Trailfinders tried to probe Leinster A’s defence to find a breakthrough and Phil Chesters nearly broke away after Munro had broken the Irish side’s defence.

They continued where they left off at the end of the first half and matched Leinster A’s intensity without actually managing to find the breakthrough.

Leinster A right-wing Darragh Fanning finally broke the second-half deadlock when he rounded off a counter-attacking move and centre Colm O’Shea then added two more to put the Irish side fully in control.

By then Leinster A had found their rhythm and full-back Cian Kelleher added their sixth with just under 10 minutes remaining.

Ealing Trailfinders refused to buckle though and when Steve Neville swooped on a losse ball and led an attack the ball was eventually worked wide to Callum Wilson who passed on to York, who barged his way over.

As the clock ran down Leinster A prop Royce Burke-Flynn ran in the Irish team’s seventh try to complete a well-deserved victory.

Scorers
Leinster A
Tries (Dooley 37, Beirne 44, Fanning 53, O’Shea 56, 59, Kelleher 66, Burke-Flynn 80), Conversions (Marsh 38, 57), Penalties (Marsh 7, 20)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (York 73), Conversions (Love 74), Penalties (Davies 12, 28)

Leinster A
Cian Kelleher, Darragh Fanning, Colm O’Shea, Steve Crosbie, Mick McGrath, Cathal Marsh, Charlie Rock; Peter Dooley, Bryan Byrne, Michael Bent, Gavin Thornbury, Tadhg Beirne, Josh Murphy, Dan Leavy, Peadar Timmins (captain)
Reserves
Sean McNulty, Royce Burke-Flynn, David O’Connor, Tony Ryan, Matthew D’Arcy, Harrison Brewer, Ian Fitzpatrick

Ealing Trailfinders
James Love, Callum Wilson, Sam Stanley, Joe Munro, Phil Chesters, Tristan Roberts, Alex Davies; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence (captain), Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Llewelyn Jones, Harrison Orr, Arthur Ellis, Chris York
Reserves
Steve Neville, Karl Gibson, Sam Rodman, Alex Bradley, Eoghan Grace, Tom Bliss, Chris Kinloch

Referee – Craig Evans

Championship 2015-2016 St. Peters

Jersey Reds vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders left the Channel Islands empty-handed after they came up against a powerful Jersey side in rampant form under the lights at St Peters.

Ben Ward’s side led for a short while in the first half after Iain Grieves scored, but once Harvey Biljon’s team found their rhythm they took a grip on the match which they didn’t relinquish.

Jersey kicked off and within two minutes were ahead when fullback Aaron Penberthy banged over a penalty within two minutes. He stretched the lead further on 13 minutes with his second penalty after wing Ross Adair had led a Jersey counter-attack.

Ealing Trailfinders worked their way into the match and dominated for 10 minutes before Grieves was driven over from a line-out. Alex Davies converted the try, but Penberthy hit back to put the host back in the lead with his third penalty.

Jersey stretched their lead further on the stroke of half-time when their forwards hammered the Ealing Trailfinders line and eventually were rewarded with a penalty try that Penberthy converted to stretch the lead to 16-7 at half-time.

Jersey increased the lead further still early in the second half when prop Sam Lockwood powered over from close range after the Jersey forwards had enjoyed a period of dominance.

Ealing Trailfinders fought back and after Toby Howley-Berridge and Luke Daniels threatened the Jersey lines with strong running, George Porter was held up on the Jersey line.

As the match wore on Jersey reserve Uili Kolo’ofai drove over from close range and then with two minutes left on the clock fly-half Brendan Cope rounded off an attack after Jersey’s backs had a belated chance to stretch their legs.

Scorers
Jersey
Tries (Penalty 36, Lockwood 45, Kolo’ofai 63, Cope 78), Conversions (Penberthy 37, 63 Cope 78), Penalties (Penberthy 2, 10, 33)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Preocanin 29), Conversions (Davies 9)

Jersey
Aaron Penberthy, Tom Howe, Fautua Otto, Lewis Robling, Ross Adair, Brendan Cope, Samisoni Fisilau; Sam Lockwood, Martin Garcia-Veiga, Oliver Tomaszczyk, Pearce Phillips, Will Rowlands, Alex Rae (captain), Gary Graham, Nic Haining
Reserves
Ignacio Saenz-Lancuba, Nic Selway, Dabby Herriott, Uili Kolo’ofai, James Freeman, Jack Winter-Moates, Mark McCrea

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, James Stephenson, Toby Howley-Berridge, Tom Wheatcroft, Luke Daniels, Ben Ward, Alex Davies; Jamie Kilbane, Alun Walker, Michael Holford, Nathan Hannay, Adam Preocanin, Llewelyn Jones, Iain Grieve (captain), Chris York
Reserves
George Porter, Rhys Lawrence, Nathan Buck, Eoghan Grace, Arthur Ellis, Alex Walker, Callum Wilson

Referee – Ian Tempest
Attendance – 1, 952

Northampton Saints v Ealing Trailfinders

March 1, 2025

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Premiership Cup