Ealing Trailfinders level the record for the most consecutive wins in the Champ after a two-point win over Coventry.
George Worboys kicked off the match into Coventry’s 22 who gathered cleanly. Coventry found space on the left wing in an early break but were dragged into touch.
Trailfinders secured the line out and found width in attack. George Worboys found space and darted forward but was brought down just short of the try line. Trailfinders formed the ruck and the skipper Conor Oliver got over the line for the first try. Worboys slotted the conversion.
Coventry struck back quickly with their own attacking phases, putting pressure on Trailfinders in their 22. But a spillage forward from Coventry and a concession of penalties gave Trailfinders the upper hand in their half.
The physical battle ensued with handling errors from both teams. Coventry once again tried to gain ground and found themselves running into the Trailfinders defensive wall. Yet, a penalty to Coventry saw Sam Maunder kick the ball towards the corner. With a ten metre line out, Coventry aimed to move from an attacking platform but Trailfinders stole the ball but spilt it giving Coventry another opportunity. Dan Green darted through for the visitor’s first try. The conversion was successful by Josh Thomas to level the score.
Momentum on their side, Coventry continued to challenge the home side in their own half. Finding space, David Opoku-Fordjour slid in under the posts. Thomas added the conversion.
With the first quarter gone, Trailfinders found themselves defending in their own half as Coventry threw the dummy pass to find a break towards the sticks. A loopy pass out wide on the right allowed Trailfinders to regroup. Josh Thomas opted for the cross-field kick which flew straight into touch. Coventry had a penalty from Trailfinders’ offside and went through the short phases to eventually score from the hands of Sentiki Nayalo. Thomas added the extras.
Trailfinders were awarded a penalty for a high tackle from Coventry after the restart. A line out from Mike Willemse gave Trailfinders the platform to attack in Coventry’s half. Coventry gave away another penalty for bringing down the maul and Worboys kicked for the corner.
Willemse threw a short line out to set the men in green in up for the short range phases. Coventry conceded another penalty for being offside to give the home side the tap and go option. The men in green went out wide to Michael Dykes who scored the second try in the lefthand corner.
As the rain poured down with seven minutes from half-time, Coventry were given a scrum in Trailfinders’ half. But the men in green were awarded the penalty after Coventry went straight down.
Trailfinders secured a reset from the scrum with time dwindling in the first half but Coventry drew a penalty from the reset. Josh Thomas called for posts and added the extra three points as half-time was called.
Half-time: Ealing Trailfinders 12-24 Coventry
Trailfinders began the second half with great attacking intent, breaking down the left side channel until a handling error gave Coventry the first scrum of the second half.
The men in green won a penalty and fresh-legged Dan Jones kicked the ball to the corner. Attacking from short range, Trailfinders went through the phases, though a handling error sent the referee back to the penalty advantage. Trailfinders reset once more.
Trailfinders relied on the set piece to drive the ball over. Mike Willemse scored for the first time this season on his return to lock in the home side’s third try. Jones slotted the extras.
In attacking motion, Geordie Gwynn put boot to ball for territory gain but the ball headed into touch, giving Coventry a line out in their own 22. Sam Maunder put boot to ball but Michael Dykes cleanly gathered in the air.
The men in green continued to find attacking flow until Coventry tried to intercept the ball but knocked it on, giving Trailfinders another scrum.
After plenty of centre field play, Coventry found themselves heading towards the try line once more. But Trailfinders secured a penalty and Jones kicked the ball towards the halfway line and it landed in touch.
Another wave of Coventry attack avoided, Trailfinders were back with ball in hand and were awarded yet another penalty.
Scott Buckley threw the longer lineout and Trailfinders whipped the ball out to the centres. But the ball was spilt forward from the Coventry tackle.
Once again with ball in hand, Michael Stronge zipped the ball from the maul to the backline. Yet, another handling error in the phases of attack gave the visitors another scrum in their 22. But Coventry conceded another penalty for holding on.
Jones kicked for the corner once more as Trailfinders looked to level. The men in green gathered in Coventry defenders then got the ball out wide to Tobi Wilson who slid in for the bonus-point score. Dan Jones slotted the extras to give Trailfinders the lead once more.
From the restart, Coventry were penalised as then ran in front of the kicker before the ball came loose from Thomas’s boot. Trailfinders secured another scrum, this time on the halfway line.
Dan Jones once more sent the ball into the lefthand corner for a Trailfinders lineout.
Buckley threw a spot-on lineout to Will Montgomery who gathered. Buckley found himself at the tail of the maul and drove it forward to score. Jones added the extra two.
Trailfinders conceded a penalty in their half and Coventry opted for the points. Thomas slotted the three points to narrow the scoreboard deficit.
With five minutes to go, Tobi Wilson sent the ball to the skies, chased his own kick, tackled and sent the Coventry defence back fifteen metres and secured a penalty in the process.
The visitors continued to concede penalties in their own 22 as time on the clock dwindled. Jones opted to take the kick and slotted the penalty to add three more points to the scoreboard.
Coventry were not to be deterred and Api Bavadra scored under the posts. Thomas converted the extras.
In a tense final few seconds, Trailfinders held firm in defence and then secure a penalty. Wilson kicked the ball into touch to as Trailfinders make history and level the Champ Rugby record for the most consecutive wins in the league.
Full-time: Ealing Trailfinders 36-34 Coventry
Ealing Trailfinders –
Tries – Conor Oliver 1, Michael Dykes 28, Mike Willemse 45, Tobi Wilson 66, Scott Buckley 70
Conversions – George Worboys 2, Dan Jones 45 66 71
Penalties – Dan Jones 79
Coventry –
Tries – Dan Green 12, David Opoku-Fordjour 16, Sentiki Nayalo 24, Api Bavadra 80
Conversions – Josh Thomas 12 17 24 80
Penalties – Josh Thomas 74
