Ealing Trailfinders come out on top 8-28 in a tough battle against Chinnor in Round 11 of the Championship.
Tries from Mike Willemse, Ben Harris and a brace from Tobi Wilson secured five points for the visitors.
Trailfinders sit 17 points clear at the top of the Championship with five Round 11 matches still to play this weekend.
Chinnor started the brighter of the two sides, much to the pleasure of a packed out Kingsley Road. Three minutes in, Nick Smith stepped up from 40 metres to give the home side an early lead.
Trailfinders’ captain lead from the front to score the visitors’ first of the evening. Willemse found his way to the whitewash at the back of a dominant rolling maul.
The rest of the first-half was one way traffic. Next, it was Wilson who scored his first under the lights. After multiple phases in the Chinnor 22, Craig Willis called for the ball out the back, got his hands free in the tackle and Wilson raced to the line.
Ealing Trailfinders once again found themselves inside the opposition 22. This time Ben Harris spotted a gap and sprinted towards the line to extend the Londoners lead which rounded off a dominant first-half display.
Half-time: Chinnor 3-21 Ealing Trailfinders
Despite the hosts starting well in the second 40, they struggled to break down the Trailfinders defence. It was a scrappy third quarter of the game, with neither team able to build any momentum.
Wilson changed that to secure the bonus point for Ben Ward’s men. The fullback found space down the lefthand side and weaved through Chinnor bodies to score his second. Willis made it four from four off tee and maintained his 100% record to stretch the lead.
The hosts never dropped out of the fight and scored their first try at the death. After a rolling maul, the ball was moved out wide and Callum Pascoe went over untouched.
A hard fought victory on the road leaves Ealing Trailfinders in a secure position at the top of the Championship table
Full-time: Chinnor 8-28 Ealing Trailfinders
Chinnor:
Tries- Callum Pascoe 78
Penalties- Nick Smith 3
Ealing Trailfinders:
Tries- Mike Willemse 13, Tobi Wilson 25 66, Ben Harris 33
Conversions- Craig Willis 14 26 34 67
