Ealing Trailfinders vs Nottingham

Ealing Trailfinders moved into third place in the Greene King IPA Championship after a clinical performance against a Nottingham side that featured two former players in wings James Stephenson and Billy Robinson.

Ben Ward’s team will need to wait for the result of Doncaster Knight and Yorkshire Carnegie on Sunday to find out if they will stay third by the end of the weekend, but the win did to keep them at arm’s-length from the pursuing pack led by Cornish Pirates and Jersey Reds.

The scoring started early when Ealing Trailfinders’ pack won a penalty try. Rory Clegg added the conversion and then knocked over a penalty.

Lewis Jones then extended the lead further when he popped up on Joe Munro’s shoulder to run in between the posts.

Nottingham didn’t sit back and after their pack had tried their luck with a number of driving mauls, they eventually scored a penalty-try of their own.

Despite the set-back Ealing Trailfinders responded in emphatic fashion. Will Harries scored the third after linking with Clegg and Lewis Jones in midfield and then the fullback put Miles Mantella away for his first with a simple one on one.

Mark Bright and Kieran Murphy were leading the charge with powerful runs in midfield. At the line-out Llewelyn Jones and Glen Townson were taking great pleasure in disrupting Nottingham’s line-out, then when the ball went to the backs Clegg had time and space to pick out the numerous runners outside him.

Lewis Jones scored a fifth try when he swooped on a dropped pass, but Nottingham had the final word of the half when number 8 Shane Buckley took a tapped free-kick and powered over.

Nottingham continued to attack after the break and used the tail-wind to their advantage. However, it was Ealing Trailfinders who extended the league when Mantella scored his second.

It set the hosts up to take the match by the scruff of the neck. As the clock ran down Josh Davies rounded off a swift counter-attack and then with only two minutes left Munro crashed over from close range against his former club.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Penalty 3, Lewis Jones 12, 31 Harries 22, Mantella 26, 48, Davies 71, Munro 78), Conversions (Clegg 3, 12, 22, 26, 31, 48, Penberthy 71, 78), Penalties (Clegg 6)
Nottingham
Tries (Penalty 16, Buckley 38), Conversions (Eden 16)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Miles Mantella, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Glen Townson, Llewelyn Jones, Kieran Murphy, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, James Gibbons, Alex Penny, Barney Maddison, Arthur Ellis, Josh Davies, Aaron Penberthy

Nottingham
Will Millett, Billy Robinson, Oli Evans, Vili Hakalo, James Stephenson, Tiff Eden, Darryl Veenendaal, Owen Hills, Jimmy Stevens, Ben Hooper, Tom Holmes, Ben Morris, Jordan Coghlan, Matt Everard (Captain), Shane Buckley
Reserves
TJ Harris, Will Stuart, Tom West, Toby Freeman, Josh Poullet, Murray McConnell, Alex Goble

Referee – Matthew O’Grady
Attendance – 682
STORM Watches Man of the Match

Ealing Trailfinders vs Scarlets

Ealing Trailfinders reached the semifinals of the British and Irish Cup for the first time after they ran in 12 tries against the Scarlets Premiership Select XV.

It was a dominant performance from Ben Ward’s side and after an early scare they took a firm grip on proceedings and held it to the final whistle. Their physicality and organisation in defence stopped the Welsh side from breaking through and then when they went on the attack they were ruthless in taking their chances.

Nonetheless Scarlets started the stronger and after Gareth Owen had powered his way through the home side’s defence, his partner in the centres Richard Smith dotted down in the corner for a try that Billy McBryde converted.

Rory Clegg slotted a penalty to calm nerves and soon after Arthur Ellis took Rayn Smid’s pass to finish off a slick passing move.

Clegg added his second penalty and then his soft hands set Aled Jenkins free to wiggle through the Scarlets defence to round fullback Aled Thomas and score. Then as halftime drew nearer Curtis Wilson outpaced Scarlets captain Morgan Allen to gather his kick-through and touch down.

After the break there was no let-up and James Cordy-Redden took little time to score in the corner before fullback Will Harries swooped on a loose ball to scoot round behind the posts.

As the game opened up Smid and Mark Bright began to relish running at the Scarlets defence and both were rewarded by ending the match on the scoresheet.

Scarlets continued to give their all and while Jack Maynard added energy off the bench they were still unable to find a way past Ealing Trailfinders’ defence.

In the last 10 minutes Joe Munro, Lewis Jones and Josh Davies finished off swift counter-attacks to cap an impressive performance and set up a semifinal away to either Munster A or Ulster A over the first weekend of April.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Ellis 16, Jenkins 27, Wilson 38, 68 Cordy-Redden 44, 70, Harries 53, Smid 57, Bright 65, Davies 72, Lewis Jones 75, Munro 77), Conversions (Clegg 27, 38, 53, 57, 65, 70, 72, 75, 77), Penalties (Clegg 11, 22)
Scarlets Premiership Select
Tries (Richard Smith 6), Conversions (McBryde 6)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, James Cordy-Redden, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Curtis Wilson, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Glen Townson, Rayn Smid, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, James Gibbons, Alex Penny, Harry Casson, Willie Ryan, Josh Davies, Lewis Jones

Scarlets Premiership Select
Aled Thomas, Tom Williams, Richard Smith, Gareth Owen, Matthew Owen, Billy McBryde, Declan Smith; Luke Garett, Daf Hughes, Nicky Thomas, Josh Helps, Rynier Barnardo, Jack Condy, Tom Phillips, Morgan Allen (captain)
Reserves
Rhys Fawcett, Taylor Davies, Haven Sabastian, Joe Powell, Shaun Evans, Connor Lloyd, Jack Maynard

Referee – Nigel Correll
Attendance – 650
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Curtis Wilson

Rotherham Titans vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders stay in the Greene King IPA Championship play-off places after running in six tries in their maiden victory at Rotherham Titans’ Clifton Lane home.

Kieran Murphy grabbed a brace of tries, Luke Carter scored one on his return to South Yorkshire and there were further scores from Will Harries, Rayn Smid and Sam Rodman.

Rory Clegg made his club debut after his deadline day move and he finished with a 100 percent record with his boot of six conversions and three penalties.

Ben Ward’s team were helped after Rotherham Titans second row Miles Normandale was sent off for catching Carter’s head with a boot after 16 minutes. It meant there was plenty of room for Clegg to set his runners free; either the outside backs into space, or powerful drives from the forward pack.

Clegg had scored his first penalty by the time Normandale received his marching orders and soon after he converted Murphy’s first try after the back-row had been driven over from the back of a lineout.

The flanker then added his second when he peeled round the back of a lineout to leave him with a straight-forward run over the line.

After the pack continued to exert more pressure on the line Carter scooted around the side of a ruck to leave a four-try bonus point on the cards just before the half-hour mark. It duly came shortly before half-time when Murphy turned creator with a clever chip over the defence that Harries swooped on.

Clegg kicked his third penalty to bring the half to a close, but when they returned it was the 14 men of Rotherham Titans who started in the ascendancy.

Prop Jo Rees was driven over for their first points and while Ealing Trailfinders responded with Smid’s first try for the club, wing Tom Collins received the biggest cheer of the day when he intercepted a loose pass and raced home from his half.

Ealing Trailfinders enjoyed the final word as the pack again took command of proceedings and with the clock running down prop Rodman scored Ealing Trailfinders’ sixth in a similar way to their first by being driven over following a lineout win from Willie Ryan.

Scorers
Rotherham Titans
Tries (Rees 47, Collins 60), Conversions (Ryan 60)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Murphy 15, 23, Carter 29, Harries 37, Smid 55, Rodman 71), Conversions (Clegg 15, 23, 29, 37, 55, 71), Penalties (5, 19, 40)

Rotherham Titans
Will Thomas, Ben Foley, Callum Wilson, Will Owen, Tom Collins, Charlie Foley, Connor Murphy; Tom Williams, Luke Cole, Joe Rees, Miles Normandale, Oli Curry, Tom Calladine, Charlie Maddison, Lewis Ludlam
Reserves
Joe Graham, Toby Williams, Danny Herriot, Darren Oliver, Tom MacDonald, Matt Walsh, Caolan Ryan

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Rhys Lawrence, James Gibbons, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Willie Ryan, Josh Davies, Curtis Wilson

Referee – Ian Tempest
Attendance – 773

Bedford Blues vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders won for the first time at Goldington Road after Mark Bright and Miles Mantella scored tries either side of half-time and Aaron Penberthy scored 19 points with his boot.

It was a match that was littered by elementary mistakes from both sides, but after Ealing Trailfinders weathered 20 minutes of Bedford Blues dominating possession and territory they eventually broke free of their half to take the lead and control the remainder of the match.

The result means Ben Ward’s side stay fourth in the Greene King IPA Championship and in the play-off places.

The opening 10 minutes were pock-marked by basic errors by both teams, but once the match settled down it was Ealing Trailfinders who opened the scoring when Aaron Penberthy knocked over a penalty after the pack had put the squeeze on their opponents at a scrum.

As both teams began to find their stride Miles Mantella made an important interception to stop a Blues overlap from being exploited. Nonetheless fly-half Miles Dorrian kicked them level with his first penalty of the day.

Penberthy responded with his second penalty to restore the lead after a number of carries from the pack forced Bedford into offending. They then enjoyed a good five-minute period on the Blues’ line, but the home side’s defence held strong to repel the danger.

The hosts showed the threat they pose on the counter as they scored their first try. Piers O’Conor found space to attack out wide, Ed Packman collected O’Conor’s rubber, held off the defence and off-loaded for O’Conor to cross.

Ealing Trailfinders hit back quickly with a try of their own and again the pack was to fore. First came a lineout catch and drive and when the Blues stopped that, first Kieran Murphy and then Mark Bright attacked the line, with the captain breaking through to score by the posts.

Penberthy converted the try and then landed his third penalty to stretch the lead further, but after Bedford built some momentum deep in the visitors half, Dorrian kicked his second penalty.

The Blues continued their attacking intent after the break and good hands from Will Carrick-Smith and Ollie Dodge set fullback Elliot Clements-Hill free to race home.

They continued to enjoy the bulk of possession and territory up to the hour mark, albeit without being able to find their way through the Ealing Trailfinders defence again.

Lewis Jones stopped number 8 Jason Hill on the line and his 14 teammates all dug deep to hold the Blues out. Then when Ealing Trailfinders did break out of their own half Penberthy scored his fourth penalty of the day to restore the visitors lead.

Ealing Trailfinders still had to be on the mettle in defence, but after Aled Jenkins won a turnover, Joe Munro led a counter-attack to set up position close to the Bedford line. It appeared the hosts had averted the danger, but Mantella swooped on a loose pass to race clear for his third try in two matches.

With five minutes to go Penberthy scored his fifth penalty and while he missed a sixth, by then he and his teammates were in full control of proceedings as the clocked ticked to fulltime.

Scorers
Bedford Blues
Tries (O’Conor 25, Clements-Hill 45), Penalties (Dorrian 15, 38)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Bright 30, Mantella 73), Conversions (Penberthy 30, 75), Penalties (Penberthy 11, 17, 35, 65, 75)

Bedford Blues
Elliot Clement-Hill, Howard Packman, Piers O’Conor, Ollie Dodge, Dean Adamson, Myles Dorrian (captain), Tom Whiteley; Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Dan George, Billy Walker, Jordan Onojaife, Will Carrick-Smith, Paul Tupai, Ben Adams, Jason Hill
Reserves
Jacob Fields, Camillo Parilli-Ocampo, Ben Cooper, Byron Hodge, Justin Blanchet, Jordan Burns, Jake Sharp

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Ignacio Lancuba, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Rayn Smid, Josh Davies, Lewis Jones

Referee – Matthew O’Grady
Attendance – 2,094

Ealing Trailfinders vs Richmond

Ealing Trailfinders ran in four tries to stay fourth in the Greene King IPA Championship after taking all five points on offer.

Wings James Cordy-Redden and Miles Mantella scored the tries on a day when the two teams hammered into each other, with little neighbourly love on display on the Valentine’s Day weekend.

After the initial exchanges Rob Kirby kicked the first points of the day, but Ealing Trailfinders responded by setting up Luke Daniels for a run that took him deep into Richmond’s half.

Jordan Simpson-Heft showed the visitors’ determination not to take a backward step when he powered into Aled Jenkins. However, the ball was quickly turned over and Cordy-Redden plucked Penberthy’s cross-kick out of the sky and raced away to score in the corner.

The pair nearly repeated the move moments later as Ealing Trailfinders played their advantage. After the move was stopped Luke Carter then raced through the middle of the Richmond defence from the base of the scrum.

Ealing Trailfinders continued to apply the pressure and after two penalties took them up to the Richmond line, the ball went left, then back to the right where Joe Munro set Mantella free to run in his first try since he joined the club in December.

An accidental offside by Ross Grimstone stopped a Richmond attack and after Penberthy found touch with the penalty, Barney Maddison’s catch and Chris York’s carry broke the game line and Jenkins set up Cordy-Redden for his second.

Again Richmond came at the Ealing Trailfinders defence with Ronnie McLean making a number of strong carries, but again the home side’s defence held firm and Munro, York and Mantella then combined to turn defence into attack.

The visitors broke through on the stroke of half-time when flanker Jack Allcock was driven over from a rolling maul after the Richmond pack had gone through a number of phases to win a penalty.

They continued to go on the offensive after half-time though it took 10 minutes for either side to make the breakthrough. It came after Arthur Ellis found space in midfield, used quick feet to beat his man and then popped the ball to Mantella to race away.

Richmond responded with a converted try after tight-head prop Rupert Harden drove over, but again it prefaced a good period of possession and territory for the home side and only an interception from wing Jonathan Woodward stopped Munro joining the list of try-scorers.

Penberthy knocked over a penalty to keep Richmond at arm’s length as the clock ran down and captain Mark Bright then came up with a vital line-out steal as Richmond went on the attack.

It held them at bay for a short while, but with the final kick Kirby landed his second penalty that ensured they went home across Kew Bridge with a losing bonus point.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Cordy-Redden 11, 26 Mantella 22, 50), Conversions (Penberthy 12, 26), Penalties (Penberthy 75)
Richmond
Tries (Allcock 40, Harden 55), Conversions (Kirby 40, 55), Penalties (Kirby 7, 80)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Chris York, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Rhys Lawrence, James Gibbons, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Rayn Smid, Alex Walker, Lewis Jones

Richmond
Rob Kirby, Jono Woodward, Cameron Mitchell, Ronnie McLean, Jordan Simpson-Heft, Rory Damant, Sam Stuart, Joe Tarrant, Ross Grimstone, Rupert Harden, Will Warden (captain), Matt Corker, Adam Peters, Jack Allcock, Chris Davies
Reserves
Richard Townsend, Timmy Walford, Tom Sargeant, Jamie Gibbs, Freddie Gabbitass, Harry Edwards, Jeremy Cunnew

STORM Watches Man of the Match – Aaron Penberthy
Referee – Steve Lee
Attendance – 1,022

Doncaster Knights vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders secured a second consecutive win on the road in the Greene King IPA Championship and in doing so closed the gap to Doncaster Knights in third place to four points.

It was an impressive performance by Ben Ward’s side who dominated the first half and then withstood a Knights’ fightback as fulltime drew near.

Four Aaron Penberthy penalties put Ealing Trailfindes 9-3 ahead at half-time, though the Knights defence had stopped them from breeching the try-line. Barney Maddison made the breakthrough midway through the second half, but when Knights debutant Aaron Carpenter scored on his debut with eight minutes remaining it appeared as though the Yorkshiremen had performed a smash and grab job.

However, the team maintained their focus as the clock ran down and Joe Munro cut a strong line from a scrum to retake the lead. Penberthy’s conversion and then drop goal just before the final whistle meant that there would also be no bonus point for the hosts.

Ealing Trailfinders didn’t hang around and began in determined mood. Penberthy scored his first penalty for an early lead, but the Knights hit back with one of their own through Dougie Flockhart.

The match continued became a battle of Ealing Trailfinders’ attack against Doncaster Knights defence, who held out the visitor’s efforts on a number of occasions. They did add another two penalties through Penberthy’s right boot when wing Sean Scanlon was in the sin-bin for making contact with James Cordy-Redden in the air.

The second half began in the same vein when Penberthy scored his fourth penalty after Knights centre Lloyd Hayes had become the second play to be yellow-carded.

They responded immediately when Michael Heaney pounced on a loose restart to run in the first try of the match to bring the score to 12-8, but Maddison then took advantage of a pass straight to him that allowed him to canter home.

As the clock ticked past the hour mark the home side raised their intensity and Flockhart slotted two penalties to close to within five points. They kept Ealing Trailfinders in deep in their half and after a strong carry from Jarad Williams from a scrum Carpenter forced his way over from the next phase to give the hosts the lead for the first time.

With the final whistle approaching Munro cut a swathe through the Knights defence and then from the restart the team went through the phases to establish a position from where Penberthy could pop over a drop goal to silence the 1,452 crowd.

Scorers
Doncaster Knights
Tries (Heaney 49, Carpenter 72), Conversions (Flockhart 72), Penalties (Flockhart16, 63, 66)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Maddison 58, Munro 78), Conversions (Penberthy 58, 78), Penalties (Penberthy 9, 21, 30, 43), Drop Goal (Penberthy 80)

Doncaster Knights
Paul Jarvis, Dougie Flockhart, Lloyd Hayes, Mat Clark, Tyson Lewis, Dec Cusack, Michael Heaney, Richard List, Ben Hunter, WillGriff John, Matt Challinor, Dave Nolan, Jack Ram, Michael Hills (captain), Jarad Williams
Reserves
Jack Bergmanas, Harry Allen, Colin Quigley, Latu Makaafi, Aaron Carpenter, Sam Edgerley, Sean Scanlon

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Miles Mantella, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, James Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Chris York, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Ignacio Lancuba, Sam Rodman, Adam Preocanin, Willie Ryan, Alex Walker, Will Harries

Attendance – 1,452

Ealing Trailfinders vs London Irish

Ealing Trailfinders were denied a famous win against the Greene King IPA Championship leaders in front of their biggest crowd of the season when Irish fullback Tommy Bell hit a late penalty.

Both teams pushed each other hard for the full 80 minutes in a ferocious contest and the result means that Ben Ward’s team finished with a losing bonus point that keeps them fourth in the table.

Ealing Trailfinders quickly found their stride and after building pressure in the Irish half, debutant Miles Mantella broke the line, linked with Aled Jenkins, Arthur Ellis and Kieran Murphy, who set Phil Chesters to finish in the corner.

Bell closed the gap with a penalty as the visitors began to find their rhythm. After continuing to apply pressure fly-half James Marshall ran in their first try of the match after good interplay in midfield between Brendan McKibbin and Fergus Mulchrone.

Both teams continued to chance their arm with the ball and Chesters narrowly missed Aaron Penberthy’s crosskick. Llewelyn Jones then came up with an important lineout steal when Irish had kicked deep from a penalty.

Mark Bright began to impose himself further on the match and set Will Harries free to race clear after he had shrugged off three tacklers. Harries was hauled down short of the line and while Murphy kept the mover going, Irish’s defence continued to hold out.

Bright then made a vital tackle on Mulchrone on the stroke of halftime to ensure the hosts remained in touching distance at the break.

Penberthy scored the first points of the half with a well-struck penalty and Murphy and Harries both made runs that caused the Irish defence problems, albeit without breaking through. Instead it was Irish who added to the score when Topsy Ojo hit a strong line off a Marshall inside pass.

Ealing Trailfinders response was emphatic and after the pack built momentum on the line, Llewelyn Jones marked his return to action by wiggled through the Irish defence, which along with Penberthy’s conversion closed the deficit to two points.

Irish’s pack won a scrum penalty that Bell banged over, but Ealing Trailfinders again responded in fine style. Jenkins found space to break through the midfield and once more Chesters was on his shoulder to round off the move.

Harries was again stopped short after he was first to a Penberthy crosskick and Jenkins then had to make an important tackle on Scott Steele after the reserve scrumhalf raced clear.

Bell hit his second penalty with less than 10 minutes to play, but Ealing Trailfinders maintained their energy levels. One last counter-attack broke down and that allowed Irish to run the clock down and Steele to hammer the ball clear to bring the match to an end.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Chesters 6, 67, Llewelyn Jones 56), Conversions (Penberthy 56, 67), Penalties (Penberthy 44)
London Irish
Tries (Marshall 19, Ojo 52), Conversions (Bell 19, 52), Penalties (Bell 14, 64, 71)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Miles Mantella, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Phil Chesters, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Llewelyn Jones, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Arthur Ellis, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, James Gibbons, Sam Rodman, Chris York, Rayn Smid, Alex Walker, Lewis Jones

London Irish
Tommy Bell, Topsy Ojo, Ciaran Hearn, Fergus Mulchrone, Aseli Tikoirotuma, James Marshall, Brendan McKibbin, Tom Court, David Paice (captain), Ben Franks, George Robson, Sebastian De Chaves, Mike Coman, Blair Cowan, Ofisa Treviranus
Reserves
Todd Gleave, Harry Elrington, Oliver Hoskins, Will Lloyd, Luke Narraway, Scott Steele, Johnny Williams

Referee – JP Doyle
Attendance – 2,630
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Mark Bright

Yorkshire Carnegie vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders were unable to hold onto their unbeaten run in the British and Irish Cup, but their losing bonus point ensured that they finished top of Pool 5, two points ahead of their hosts at Scarborough RFC and so qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time.

Luke Carter scored an early try that new signing Rory Jennings converted and after the fly-half added a penalty the visitors led 10-0. While Andy Saull and Michael Cusack scored tries for the hosts that Warren Seals converted, they were unable to score the points they needed to be in with a chance of winning the pool.

Ealing Trailfinders took control of the match early on thanks chiefly to the pack that used the rolling maul to suck in numbers and put pressure on Carnegie’s line.

It quickly paid dividends as first flanker Ollie Steadman was yellow-carded for persistent infringing and while he was in the bin scrum-half Carter spied a gap that he dashed through to open the scoring.

New boy Jennings converted the score, but was unable to extend it further as he pulled his first penalty of the match wide.

The hosts found some rhythm as the half wore on, but Ealing Trailfinders’ defence held out and while they were unable to capitalise on their chances, Ben Ward’s side enjoyed the better of the territorial battle and went in at half time seven points ahead.

A high tackle allowed Jennings another shot at the posts and he didn’t miss a second time around.

Carnegie began to work their way back into the match and they were eventually rewarded for their improvement with a try when former Saracens flanker Saull collected Phil Nilsen’s inside pass to go over.

They scored a second with less than seven minutes to go after Cusack touched down from the back of a rolling maul. With fly-half Warren Seals converting both it put Carnegie ahead and while they held the lead to the final whistle, it wasn’t enough to knock Ealing Trailfinders off top spot in the group.

Scorers
Yorkshire Carnegie
Tries (Saull 65, Cusack 73), Conversions (Seals 65, 73)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Carter 20), Conversions (Jennings 20), Penalties (Jennings 55)

Yorkshire Carnegie
Stevie McColl, Oli Goss, Alex Gray, Tom Casson, Taylor Prell, Warren Seals, Max Green; Rob O’Donnell, Phil Nilsen, James Thraves, Dan Sanderson, Ben West, Ollie Stedman, Andy Saull, Ryan Burrows (captain)
Reserves
Mike Mayhew, Lewis Boyce, Mike Cusack, Mike Myerscough, Josh Bainbridge, Sam Allan, Seb Stegmann

Ealing Trailfinders
Rhys Crane, Will Harries, Aled Jenkins, Joe Munro, Curtis Wilson, Rory Jennings, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Alex Penny, Harry Casson, Glen Townson, Willie Ryan, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Rhys Lawrence, James Gibbons, Sam Rodman, Chris York, Seb Nagle-Taylor, Alex Walker, Lewis Jones

Referee – Rhys Thomas
Attendance – 837

Ealing Trailfinders vs Dragons

Ealing Trailfinders stayed top of British and Irish Cup Pool 5 with an eight-try win over the Dragons Premiership Select.

The result means they remain in first place, five points clear of Yorkshire Carnegie, who beat Bedford Blues 29-12 at Goldington Road. As such Ben Ward’s side require one point from their match away to Carnegie at Scarborough RFC next Saturday to progress in first place.

Ealing Trailfinders didn’t hang around from the start and they were into double figures before the 10-minute mark after a brace of tries from Alun Walker.

Frist he dummied and dived over from close range after a good break from James Cordy-Redden and the two Luke’s, Carter and Peters. Then he finished off a rolling maul after the scrum had won a penalty that was kicked to touch.

The backline began to come into the match more and Carter finished a counter-attack that was started by Rayn Smid and carried on by Harry Casson.

Two minutes later Peters hit a strong line to break the Dragons’ defence and his partner in the centres, Aled Jenkins was on his shoulder to finish off the move.

Ealing Trailfinders’ greater experience told throughout the first half and their intensity in defence helped them hold out as the Dragons pressed hard the end of the half, most notably when centre Connor Edwards broke the line.

There was little the defence was able to do when Edwards repeated the trick early in the second half to open the Dragons’ scoring, but Ealing Trailfinders quickly re-imposed themselves on the match.

Walker completed his hat-trick with another close-range effort and then Peters finished off another backs move that swept from their 22 to the try-line.

Dragons hit back with tries from Barney Nightingale and Henri Williams, but they were book-ended with efforts from Rhys Lawrence, who had the last word just before the stroke of fulltime.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Walker 2, 6, 52 Carter 22, Jenkins 25, Peters 54, Lawrence 67, 79), Conversions (Daniels 2, 6, 23, 25, 52, 54, 67, 79)
Dragons Premiership Select
Tries (Edwards 42, Nightingale 72, Henri Williams 77), Conversions (Prosser 72, Robson 77)

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Will Davies, Aled Jenkins, Luke Peters, James Cordy-Redden, Ben Ward, Luke Carter; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Alex Penny, Harry Casson, Glen Townson, Willie Ryan, Arthur Ellis, Rayn Smid
Reserves
Rhys Lawrence, James Gibbons, Lewis Thiede, Chris York, Mark Bright, Josh Davies, Lewis Jones

Dragons Premiership Select
Josh Prosser, Joe Goodchild, Connor Edwards, Barney Nightingale, Matthew Powell, Arwel Robson, Charlie Davies; John Lavender, Darran Harris, Craig Mitchell (capt), Joe Davies, Ashley Sweet, James Thomas, Nathan Hudd, Andrew Waite
Reserves
Alun Rees, Keagan Bale, Chris Coleman, Henri Williams, Max Williams, Owen Davies, James Dixon

Referee – Fergus Kirby
Attendance – 433
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Harry Casson

Jersey Reds vs Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders rang in the New Year in fine style by beating old rivals Jersey Reds at St Peter, their second win over the Channel Islanders in this season’s Greene King IPA Championship.

The result took Ben Ward’s side up to fourth in the Championship table after they had slipped to fifth place overnight.

Centre Joe Munro scored his second try in two matches against Jersey Reds this season and fly-half Aaron Penberthy weighed in with a conversion, drop goal and three second-half penalties that secured the result.

Ward’s team took the lead and held it for the rest of the match and when Jersey Reds’ pack tried to impose themselves as the clock ticked down, the Ealing Trailfinders forwards responded in powerful fashion to close out the result.

Ealing Trailfinders started in good form and quickly had their hosts under pressure after they forced them into conceding a number of penalties. Twice they tried to attack through a driven line-out, but on both occasions the Reds defence held firm.

Luke Daniels then had a chance to open the scoring but was unable to collect Aaron Penberthy’s cross-kick.

As the match settled down Jersey Reds went on the attack, but a couple of loose lineout throws allowed the visitors to hold out in defence.

With quarter of an hour gone the deadlock was broken when Penberthy opened the scoring with a smartly taken drop goal.

Lewis Jones then set up another attack when he was first to Penberthy’s chip kick. Joe Munro was stopped narrowly short of the Jersey line, but after the pack continued to attack Munro crossed at the second time of asking.

Ealing Trailfinders kept up their pressure and Penberthy showed his running ability with a run that took him past three Jersey defenders and up to the hosts line.

Jersey Reds fullback Ross Adair and Heath Stevens both had runs off their own, but the home side scored their first points when prop Simon Kerrod was driven over from a rolling maul. Fly-half Sam Katz added the conversion to bring them within three points as half-time drew near.

Penberthy scored his first penalty of the match early in the second half to give the visitors a six-point lead, but Jersey responded immediately with a penalty of their own through Katz.

The Ealing Trailfinders fly-half scored his second penalty almost immediately but Katz hit back with his to keep the home team in touching distance. As Ealing Trailfinders pack began to match their opposite number they earned Penberthy the chance to score his third and he didn’t disappoint as the time ticked past the 65-minute mark.

Hooker Jack Macfarlane came close to crossing in the corner for the hosts, but after the opted for a line-out after a penalty Daniels led the counter-attack that took play into the Jersey half.

Jersey Reds came again with a driving maul from a line-out and then opted for a scrum from another. However, the Ealing Trailfinders pack held firm to win a penalty and Luke Carter hammered the ball off the field to ensure the victory.

Scorers
Jersey Reds
Tries (Kerrod 37), Conversions (Katz 37), Penalties (Katz 48, 53)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Munro 21), Conversions (Penberthy 21), Penalties (Penberthy 44, 51, 65), Drop goal (Penberthy 15)

Jersey Reds
Ross Adair, George Watkins, Juki Ma’afu, Heath Stevens, Jordan Davies, Sam Katz, Kieran Hardy; Marc Thomas, Joe Buckle, Simon Kerrod, Nick Campbell, Dave McKern, Gary Graham, James Freeman (capt), Nick Haining
Reserves
Jack Macfarlane, Sean McCarthy, Mark Tampin, Uili Kolo’i, Max Argyle, Sami Fisilau, Joel Dudley

Ealing Trailfinders
Luke Daniels, Will Harries, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, Jams Cordy-Redden, Aaron Penberthy, Luke Carter; James Gibbons, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Glen Townson, Barney Maddison, Kieran Murphy, Seb Nagle-Taylor, Mark Bright (capt)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Will Davis, Sam Rodman, Harry Casson, Adam Preocanin, Alex Walker, Luke Carter

Referee – Kristoff Ridley
Attendance – 1,596

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