Ealing Trailfinders secure a fifth consecutive bonus-point win against Hartpury in a battle against the elements.
The opening of the match began with an aerial battle where Trailfinders and Hartpury kicked for territory.
Hartpury were rewarded an early penalty and kicked to the corner. Trailfinders disrupted the line out for turnover ball.
The aerial battle continued and Hartpury kicked the ball dead, giving Trailfinders a free kick. Hartpury knocked it on in the 22 giving Trailfinders a dominant scrum. They drove through the phases and flanker Jordy Reid got over the line for the opening score.
Hartpury continued to play with speed and quick ball in the centre of the field.
Another penalty to Trailfinders meant the men in green kicked to the corner from the boot of Dan Jones. Scott Buckley threw the line out and Trailfinders drove forward. At the back of the maul, Buckley held onto the ball and got over the line. Dan Jones successfully converted.
Trailfinders entered the red zone again after Hartpury conceded a series of penalties but the visitors kept their defence strong and were awarded a penalty by referee Jamie Parr.
Hartpury continued with their blitz defence creating tight contests in the centre of the field. Both sides continued to box kick in a battle for territory.
Another offside penalty for Hartpury gave Trailfinders another kick to the corner. Once more, Trailfinders went through the phases, fronting up to Hartpury’s defence. But too many infringements from the visitors meant that Parr went to his pocket and sent Harrison Bellamy to the sin bin.
Another line out for Trailfinders in the red zone saw the home side go through the phases. After trying the short side, Trailfinders flung the ball out wide to Deago Bailey who touched down in the corner for the third try.
An interception for Hartpury’s Keir Clark with open field in front of him gave Hartpury their first score just before half-time. Hartpury’s conversion was unsuccessful.
Half-time: Ealing Trailfinders 17-5 Hartpury
Loose ball after the kick-off gave Trailfinders a scrum in Hartpury’s half. Patrick Campbell ran the ball down the left channel but a miscommunication meant that Parr marched back for a Trailfinders penalty on the forty metre mark. Jones kicked to the corner.
Trailfinders went to the set piece: a line out to driving maul was defended by the visitors who held Trailfinders up and were rewarded a penalty by Parr.
Hartpury found attacking flow but Trailfinders held strong. Jordy Reid gathered the ball from a Hartpury kick just outside the home side’s try area. The ball went out to Jones who kicked the ball into touch.
Both sides battled against the conditions of sleeting rain in West London, increasing the difficulty of the aerial battle.
A dominant scrum from Trailfinders and a deceptive play from the back of the scrum gave Will Montgomery space to carry ten metres. The ball was whisked out to the skipper Josh Taylor who picked a beautiful line to secure the bonus-point try for Trailfinders. It was a successful conversion for Jones.
Hartpury found attacking form in Trailfinders’ 22 with three-quarters of the game gone. Parr gave Hartpury a penalty after Trailfinders infringed for being offside. Hartpury threw a strong line out and drove the maul over the try line to secure a second score by Ethan Hunt. Harry Bazalgette was successful with the conversion.
A kick chase game down the field gave Hartpury their third score in a footballing contest scored by Oscar Lennon. Bazalgette converted to narrow the scoreline.
Trailfinders went through the phases after the kick-off. Sam Edwards put boot to ball for a fantastic nudge into Hartpury’s 22. Trailfinders were pushed back but Hartpury conceded a penalty on the halfway line. Rory Scannell kicked the ball into touch ten metres out from Hartpury’s try area.
Hartpury turned defence into attack and ran the ball down field in another footballing display. Hartpury continued to opt for the kicking options which were charged down by Trailfinders. The home side eventually dragged the visitors into touch.
The aerial battle continued with five minutes left to go with only five points between the home side and the visitors. Kick tennis ensued until Hartpury kicked it dead. Jamie Parr marched both sides down into Hartpury’s half for a Trailfinders scrum.
Hartpury conceded a penalty and Trailfinders opted for a kick at goal. Scannell slotted the penalty.
The visitors ran one last attacking play but Trailfinders held strong to deny Hartpury losing bonus points.
Full-time: Ealing Trailfinders 27-19 Hartpury
Ealing Trailfinders:
Tries: Jordy Reid 6, Scott Buckley 11, Deago Bailey 29, Josh Taylor 53
Conversions: Dan Jones 12 53
Penalty: Rory Scannell 78
Hartpury:
Tries: Keir Clark 37, Ethan Hunt 62, Oscar Lennon 65
Conversions: Harry Bazalgette 62 65
Yellow cards: Harrison Bellamy 26
