Billesley Common Archives - Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club

Ealing Trailfinders fell to a defeat in their opening British and Irish Cup match of the season in a match that fully lived up to the old cliché of a match of two halves.

Ben Ward’s side went in at half-time 31-5 ahead, but after the teams turned around after the break the hosts used the fierce wind to their advantage to fight back and secure their second win over Ealing Trailfinders this season.

England’s World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson was the star guest as Moseley opened their brand new and highly-impressive main stand, but it was Ealing Trailfinders’ forwards who responded best to his presence on the side-lines in the first half.

Three times in the first half Ealing Trailfinders driving maul resulted in tries, twice for Arthur Ellis and once for Rhys Lawrence, who was making his first start since joining the club from Bristol over the summer.

Centre Danny Barnes scored his first try for the club when he finished off a sweeping counter-attack, Phil Chesters raced onto a chip over the defence and Ben Ward knocked over three conversions.

Moseley wing Tom Collins ran in the hosts only points of the first half, but after half-time Kevin Maggs’ side fully used the sleeting rain and the wind at their backs to fight back.

Collins ran in his second, number eight Chris Brightwell kept up the momentum going before Harry Casson’s score and a penalty try drew them level. With two minutes to go Charlie Foley knocked over two penalties to ensure Moseley started their cup campaign with a win, though Ealing Trailfinders at least left with both the four-try and losing bonus point.

Scorers
Moseley
Tries (Collins 32, 46, Brightwell 42, penalty 65, Casson 69), Conversions (Foley 46, 65, 69), Penalties (Foley 78, 80)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Ellis 16, 19, Barnes 24, Chester 26, Lawrence 38), Conversions (Ward 19, 24, 38)

Moseley
Mike Penn, Kyle Evans, Joe Williams, Tim Molenaar, Tom Collins, Charlie Foley, David Brazier; Adam Caves, Simon Gardiner, Aaron Flagg, Harry Casson, Ed Siggery, Will Keenan, Chris Brightwell
Reserves
Scott Tolmie, Tom Warren, Harry Hone, Joe Bercis, Buster Lawrence, Sam Brown, Greg King

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, James Stephenson, Danny Barnes, Tom Wheatcroft, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Alex Walker; George Porter, Rhys Lawrence, Sam Rodman, Carwyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Harrison Orr, Arthur Ellis, Chris York (captain)
Reserves
Jamie Kilbane, Karl Gibson, Alex Penny, Nathan Hannay, Eoghan Grace, Tom Bliss, James Love

Referee – Elia Rizo
Attendance – 818

Ealing Trailfinders returned home empty-handed from an away fixture for the first time since their return to the Greene King IPA Championship.

Rhys Crane, Danny Kenny and Phil Chesters scored a try apiece, but the side left themselves too much to do after a first half which ended with the home side having already claimed the four-try bonus point on a night in which fly-half Glyn Hughes kicked six from six.

Ben Ward’s side started strongly and after Adam Preocanin charged down a Glyn Hughes clearance, hooker Alun Walker was held up over the line. Nonetheless after a few more phases of play Tristan Roberts open the scoring with a penalty.

Moseley showed their attacking prowess when Hughes broke and chipped the defence, but Alex Walker was back in time to clear the danger. The defence continued to stand firm until Drew Cheshire found a gap and raced through to score.

Ealing Trailfinders hit back almost immediately when quick hands from Roberts to Arthur Ellis and then Danny Kenny set Crane running to score his fourth try of the season.

Tom Wheatcroft kept the visitors’ momentum going, but after kicking a penalty to the corner Moseley’s Jack Lea scored from a catch and drive. It set up a period of dominance from the home side and Arron Pinches and Mike Penn ran in tries before half-time to open an 18-point lead.

The second half began slowly, but Ealing Trailfinders scored the first try when Kenny from a short line-out. A third followed soon after when Chesters scored in the corner and Davies converted.

Hughes banged over another penalty and Roberts replied with one of his own to keep Ealing Trailfinders in bonus-point range. However, David Brazier wiggled over for Moseley’s fifth try and from then on the hosts were content to run the clock down for the win.

Scorers
Moseley
Tries (Cheshire 9, Lea 23, Punches 34, Penn 38, Brazier 71), Conversions (Hughes 9, 23, 34, 38, 71), Penalties (Hughes 68)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Crane 15, Kenny 51, Chesters 62), Conversions (Roberts 5, Davies 62), Penalties (Roberts 5, 70)

Moseley
Charles Foley, Mike Penn, Tim Molenaar, Arron Pinches, Drew Cheshire, Glyn Hughes (captain), David Brazier; Tom Fidler, Jack Lea, Craig Voisey, Sam Raven, Greg Charlton, Harry Hove, Will Keenan, Buster Lawrence
Reserves
Tom Warren, Scot Tolmie, Aaron Gardiner, Harry Casson, Rhys Williams, Sam Brown, Kyle Evans

Ealing Trailfinders
James Love, Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Tom Wheatcroft, Phil Chesters, Tristan Roberts, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Alun Walker, Nathan Buck, Nathan Hannay, Llewelyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Arthur Ellis, Danny Kenny (capt)
Reserves
George Porter, Matt Thompson, Alex Penny, Carwyn Jones, Harrison Orr/Alex Bradley, Alex Davies, Will Harries

Attendance – 975
Referee – Darren Gamage