Ealing Trailfinders vs London Scottish

Ealing Trailfinders scored 10 tries in a superb attacking display as they moved back to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship table with a 72-12 victory over London Scottish at Vallis Way.

Ben Ward’s side scored some fantastic tries as they put out a huge statement with their best performance of the season so far against the Exiles.

The first try of the afternoon came courtesy of Miles Mantella with five minutes on the clock. A long looping pass from Jake Sharp was read superbly by the winger, who intercepted and raced clear from the half way line to score. Peter Lydon’s first of six conversions gave his side an early 7-0 lead.

Four minutes later Lydon, who was voted Storm Man of the Match scored his first try for the club to extend the advantage. Joe Munro made some valuable metres in the midfield, and the ball was spun wide to the Irishman who picked a great line and ran through unattended.

London Scottish responded straight away and got back in to the match with a try from Craig Holland. Some neat hands with a number of offloads drew in the defence, and resulted in an overlap on the right wing which allowed Holland to dive over in the corner.

Alun Walker then scored for the third consecutive match to put the hosts back in control on the 20 minute mark. A penalty was kicked to touch and gave Ealing a five metre lineout, which drove towards the line and saw Walker break away to score.

Lydon extended the lead to 24-7 with a penalty, before Piers O’Conor continued his try-scoring form with another five pointer before the break. It was again his centre partenr Munro who was making metres in the middle, and with the ball recycled by the try-line O’Conor showed some neat footwork to step his defender and dive over the line.

That score secured the try bonus-point, and ensured that Ealing went in to half-time with a comfortable 31-7 lead.

Andrew Durutalo got the second half off to a flying start with a try on 44 minutes to widen the gap further. With the ball coming straight off the top of a lineout it found its way to the American international, who bulldozed his way through the defence and raced away from outside the 22 to score under the posts.

Club Captain Mark Bright then got the sixth try of the afternoon from a rolling maul, with it driving towards the line he managed to navigate his way to the try-line for a trademark score.

Two former Ealing players then combined well for the second Scottish try of the match. Alex Walker took a quick penalty, and after being hauled down just short it was spun to Danny Kenny who offloaded to Matt Eliet who was able to drive over the line from close range and cut the gap to 48-12.

With the bench then coming on and making a huge impact, the final 20 minutes were all about the hosts who showed their attacking capabilities with four more tries.

Rayn Smid dotted down after a brilliant one-two from Grayson Hart and Seb Stegmann on the fringes of the ruck opened up a huge amount of space for the back-rower to run through to the line to bring up the half century of points.

James Gibbons registered try number eight after bundling over the line from the fringes of a ruck, after an excellent offload from Lewis Robling on the wing to keep the move alive.

Seb Stegmann scored arguably the pick of the tries with a minute remaining. Aaron Penberthy’s perfectly measured cross-kick found the winger in the corner, and he stepped inside to fend off a number of defenders to score.

Aaron Penberthy’s first try of the season rounded off the scoring with the final play of the match. The Scots were looking to have the final say, but a pass was intercepted by Penberthy who ran clear from half way and marked the score with a jubilant dive over the try-line. The conversion went just wide, but the home fans were all celebrating a mightily impressive 72-12 victory.

Ben Ward’s men head to Bristol next Sunday in a top of the table clash on Sky Sports with renewed confidence after a morale-boosting performance.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon (replaced by Lewis Robling) 14 Seb Stegmann 13 Piers O’Conor 12 Joe Munro 11 Miles Mantella (replaced by Grayson Hart) 10 Aaron Penberthy 9 Luke Carter 1 Will Davis (replaced by James Gibbons) 2 Alun Walker (replaced by Matt Cornish) 3 Lewis Thiede (replaced by Mark Tampin) 4 Glen Townson (c) (replaced by Llewelyn Jones) 5 Barney Maddison 6 Dan Temm (replaced by Rayn Smid) 7 Andrew Durutalo 8 Mark Bright

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish 17 James Gibbons 18 Mark Tampin 19 Llewelyn Jones 20 Rayn Smid 21 Grayson Hart 22 Lewis Robling

Scorers:

Tries: Miles Mantella (6 minutes) Peter Lydon (9 minutes) Alun Walker (16 minutes) Piers O’Conor (29 minutes) Andrew Durutalo (44 minutes) Mark Bright (55 minutes) Rayn Smid (70 minutes) James Gibbons (74 minutes) Seb Stegmann (79 minutes) Aaron Penberthy (80 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (6, 9, 16, 30, 44, 56 minutes) Aaron Penberthy (70, 74 minutes)

Penalties: Peter Lydon (25, 51 minutes)

London Scottish:

15 Fraser Lyle 14 Connor Hayhow (replaced by Craig Holland) 13 Ross Neal 12 Ben Mosses 11 Nick Scott 10 Jake Sharp 9 Alex Walker 1 Derrick Appiah 2 Isaac Miller 3 Phil Cringle 4 Kyle Baillie 5 Tjiuee Uanivi 6 Danny Kenny 7 Joe Atkinson 8 Ed Milne

Replacements:

16 Pete Austin 17 Jonny Harris 18 Dino Waldren 19 Jonathan Mills 20 Matt Eliet 21 Ed Hoadley 22 Craig Holland

Scorers:

Tries: Craig Holland (13 minutes) Matt Eliet (60 minutes)

Conversions: Jake Sharp (13 minutes)

Match Officials:

Referee: Matthew O’Grady

Assistant Referees: Clare Daniels & Simon Adams

Fourth Official: Michael Hudson

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 31 – 7 London Scottish

Storm Man of the Match: Peter Lydon

Attendance: 1006

Ealing Trailfinders vs Bedford Blues

Ealing Trailfinders continued their 100% start to the season with an impressive 45-25 bonus-point victory over Bedford Blues at Vallis Way.

Ben Ward’s side put in their most complete performance of the campaign so far, scoring five tries to move to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship table.

The match started at a frantic pace, and James Cordy Redden opened the scoring after just three minutes to put Ealing ahead. Piers O’Conor stepped his defender on the half way line and then raced towards the try-line. The centre was hauled down just short of the line, but Cordy Redden dived over in the corner from the next phase. Peter Lydon, who had his kicking boots on throughout the afternoon converted from the touchline to extend the lead to 7-0.

Bedford came flying back just three minutes later, with Dean Adamson scoring two tries in two minutes to take the lead.

Firstly the winger found space on the left wing and used his pace to race clear in the corner, and two minutes later he was the beneficiary of a huge overlap to score again. Harry Sheppard converted one to give them a 12-7 advantage.

Ealing responded with a brilliant try from Piers O’Conor on the 15 minute mark. He received the ball 30 metres from the line, and side-stepped the last defender to score his first try of the season. The conversion from Lydon edged the hosts 14-12 in front.

Lydon and Sheppard then traded penalties, and the Bedford fly-half then kicked another three-pointer to put the Blues ahead as half time approached.

With one minute remaining the Trailfinders were awarded a penalty on the half way line, and Lydon dissected the posts to put his side 20-18 in front at the break.

The second half was much improved from the hosts, who pulled away from the Blues after dominating for large periods of the final 40 minutes.

Man of the Match Alun Walker scored for the second week running from a driving maul for Ealing’s third try of the match. The hooker broke away from the maul to dot down, with Lydon adding the extras.

The substitutes then added yet more intensity and it paid off with Barney Maddison securing the bonus point on 51 minutes. A lineout inside the Bedford 22 was taken, and after a number of phases the second-rower drove over the line to put the result beyond doubt, with the hosts holding a 34-18 advantage.

It got better for Ealing just five minutes later, with James Cordy Redden’s second try of the afternoon. Straight from the top of the lineout, the backs sprayed the ball through the hands and the winger was there to dive over the try-line in the corner straight from the first phase.

The returning Miles Mantella then broke the line as the hosts searched for a sixth try, and after his break with the ball inside the Bedford 22 a huge overlap on the wing left the 735 in attendance expecting another score but the ball was frustratingly knocked-on.

Lydon kicked his third penalty of the afternoon with 10 minutes remaining to extend the lead to 42-18, but Bedford responded with a try from scrum-half Jordan Burns who sniped over the try-line from close range.

Ealing closed out the match and ensured that the Blues wouldn’t register a try bonus point, with Lydon kicking another penalty in the last play of the game to record an emphatic 45-25 victory.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon 14 James Cordy Redden 13 Piers O’Conor 12 Joe Munro 11 Miles Mantella (replaced by Lewis Robling) 10 Aaron Penberthy 9 Luke Carter (replaced by Grayson Hart) 1 Will Davis (replaced by James Gibbons) 2 Alun Walker (replaced by Matt Cornish) 3 Mark Tampin (replaced by Lewis Thiede) 4 Glen Townson (c) (replaced by Llewelyn Jones) 5 Barney Maddison 6 Dan Temm (replaced by Rayn Smid) 7 Andrew Durutalo 8 Mark Bright

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish 17 James Gibbons 18 Lewis Thiede 19 Llewelyn Jones 20 Rayn Smid 21 Grayson Hart 22 Lewis Robling

Scorers:

Tries: James Cordy Redden (3, 55 minutes) Piers O’Conor (14 minutes) Alun Walker (47 minutes) Barney Maddison (53 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (3, 14, 47, 53, 55 minutes)

Penalties: Peter Lydon (21, 39, 67, 76 minutes)

Bedford Blues:

15. Chris Czekaj 14. Elliot Hill 13. Rich Lane 12. Michael Le Bourgeois (c) 11. Dean Adamson 10. Harry Sheppard 9. Lee Dickson 1. Sean McCarthy 2. Tom Lindsay 3. Alex Penny 4. Ed Taylor 5. Will Carrick-Smith 6. Alex Rae 7. Ben Adams 8. Jarad Williams

Replacements:

16. Jacob Fields 17. Camilo Parilli-Ocampo 18. Ben Cooper 19. Justin Blanchet 20. Jack Nay 21. Jordan Burns 22. James Wilson

Scorers:

Tries: Dean Adamson (6, 9 minutes) Jordan Burns (71 minutes)

Conversions: Harry Sheppard (6 minutes)

Penalties: Harry Sheppard (25, 30, 71 minutes)

Match Officials:

Referee: Steve Lee

Assistant Referees: Chris Sharp & Peter Allan

Fourth Official: Calum Howard

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 20 – 18 Bedford Blues

Attendance: 735

Storm Man of the Match: Alun Walker

Ealing Trailfinders vs Cornish Pirates

Ealing Trailfinders began the 2017/18 season with a bonus-point victory after a nerve racking 29-28 win over Cornish Pirates at Vallis Way.

The hosts had a 29-16 lead after 43 minutes but were forced to defend for large periods of the second-half, and the Pirates will feel hard done by to head back to Penzance with just a losing bonus point.

Ben Ward’s side made the ideal start with a try after just three minutes. A break down the middle gave Ealing front-foot ball, and it was spun wide to Will Harries who raced clear from outside the 22 to give his team a 5-0 advantage. Peter Lydon’s touchline conversion extended the lead to 7-0.

Pirates fly-half Laurence May had his kicking boots on, and two penalties in quick succession cut the deficit to just one point with 15 minutes on the clock.

Man of the match Andrew Durutalo, who was outstanding throughout marked his debut with a try to edge Ealing further ahead. Straight from the top of a line-out the ball was passed to the USA international, and he used his force to run right through the middle of the defence and showed impressive pace to dive under the posts. Lydon’s conversion took the lead to 14-6, and it got better just two minutes later.

Some outstanding handling in the midfield saw the hosts race from their own 22 to the Pirates try-line, and after being hauled down just short the ball was spun wide. It went through the hands of the back-line, and Seb Stegmann dotted down in the corner. The conversion came back off the post, but the hosts now held a commanding 13 point lead.

Pirates responded straight away with a well-worked try from Kyle Moyle. The winger found space, and gathered his own grubber kick to score and bring his side back in to the match. May’s conversion cut the lead to just six points as we approached half time.

There was still enough time for Lydon and May both to slot penalties, and the sides went down the tunnel with the score reading 22-16.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first, with Ealing scoring after just three minutes.

The try bonus-point was secured through Durutalo’s second score of the match. The forwards drove towards the line, and the flanker again used his strength to dive over his opposite number and score under the posts. Lyon converted to extend the lead to 29-16.

The Pirates refused to lie down and five minutes later Tom Lawday scored from close range after they kicked a penalty to within five metres of the try-line, which was then converted by May.

For the following 25 minutes it was the men from Penzance who were peppering away at the Ealing try-line, and only some outstanding defence denied them a number of tries.

With five minutes remaining the Pirates finally got another try to cut the deficit to just a single point. Toby Freeman went over after a number of phases on the line, and the conversion could have given them a one point advantage. However it flashed to the right of the posts, and gave the hosts a narrow 29-28 lead.

For the final stages Ealing showed excellent game management and kept the ball amongst the forwards to see out what was a nail-biting match, but eventually secured a bonus point victory to get the season off to a positive start.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 Peter Lydon (replaced by Luke Carter) 14 Will Harries (replaced by Lewis Robling) 13 Piers O’Connor 12 Joe Munro 11 Seb Stegmann 10 Aaron Penberthy 9 Grayson Hart 1 Will Davis (replaced by Djustice Sears Duru) 2 Alun Walker (replaced by Matt Cornish) 3 Mark Tampin (replaced by Sam Rodman) 4 Glen Townson (c) 5 Barney Maddison 6 Rayn Smid 7 Andrew Durutalo 8 Mark Bright

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish 17 Djustice Sears Duru 18 Sam Rodman 19 Harry Casson 20 Dan Temm 21 Luke Carter 22 Lewis Robling

Scorers:

Tries: Will Harries (3 minutes) Andrew Durutalo (23, 43 minutes) Seb Stegmann (27 minutes)

Conversions: Peter Lydon (3, 23, 43 minutes)

Penalties: Peter Lydon (36 minutes)

Cornish Pirates:

15, Toby May, 14 Alex O’Meara, 13 Dan Koster, 12 Nicolas De Battista, 11 Kyle Moyle, 10 Laurence May, 9 Alex Day; 1 Marlen Walker, 2 Tom Cowan-Dickie, 3 Jack Andrew, 4 Chris Morgan (c), 5 Toby Freeman, 6 Rupert Cooper, 7 Alex Cheesman, 8 Tom Lawday.

Replacements:

16 Christian Judge, 17 Billy Keast, 18, Josh Caulfield, 19 Dan Lee, 20 Mike Pope, 21 Will Cargill, 22 Pete Laverick.

Scorers:

Tries: Kyle Moyle (33 minutes) Tom Lawday (48 minutes) Toby Freeman (77 minutes)

Conversions: Laurence May (33 minutes)

Penalties: Laurence May (10, 15, 40, 48 minutes)

Match Officials:

Referee: Greg Macdonald

Assistant Referees: Darryl Chapman & Greg Garner

Fourth Official: Jack Lewars

Half Time Score: Ealing Trailfinders 22 – 16 Cornish Pirates

Attendance: 650

Storm Man of the Match: Andrew Durutalo

Ealing Trailfinders vs Yorkshire Carnegie

Ealing Trailfinders were left with an 18-point deficit to make up when they travel to Headingley Carnegie Stadium next Friday after Yorkshire Carnegie ran in four tries to take the lead in the Greene King IPA Championship play-off semifinal at Vallis Way on Friday.

Will Harries and Curtis Wilson ran in tries in the second half, but by then Carnegie had already scored three tries in a nine-minute spell midway through the first half that gave them control of the match that they didn’t relinquish.

Harries also had a late effort referred to the TMO, but he ruled the he had been held up in goal and that was the last action on a frustrating night for Ben Ward’s team.

After the early exchanges when Joe Munro, Curtis Wilson and Kieran Murphy relished taking the play to Yorkshire, Rory Clegg opened the scoring with a penalty.

However, it didn’t take the visitors long to hit their stride and after Ben West and Matt Smith had carried well, Jonah Holmes ran in his first.

Three minutes later he scored his second when the bounce of the ball went his way and left him free to race clear. Alex Davies then made it three in nine minutes after he popped up on Joe Ford’s shoulder after the fly-half had intercepted in midfield and raced clear.

With the momentum with them Ford popped over a drop-goal as the half wore down and then opened the second half scoring with a penalty.

Just before the hour mark Ealing Trailfinders rallied and turned the momentum their way. Wings Phil Chesters and Wilson were stopped short of the line, but then Harries took advantage of a loose Ford clearance to race back, leave five men in his wake and score.

Wilson then forced his way over in the corner after the pack had begun to dominate the scrums.

Carnegie had the last word though as number 8 Ryan Burrows raced in off the back of a scrum before Harries made one last effort on the Yorkshire line.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Harries 57, Wilson 68), Penalties (Clegg 9, 63)
Yorkshire Carnegie
Tries (Holmes 22, 25, Davies 31, Burrows 76), Conversions (Ford 23, 26, 32, 77), Penalties (Ford 52), Drop Goal (Ford 36)

Ealing Trailfinders
Will Harries, Curtis Wilson, Lewis Jones, Joe Munro, Phil Chesters, Rory Clegg, Luke Carter; James Gibbons, Alun Walker, Lewis Thiede, Barney Maddison, Glen Townson, Kieran Murphy, Rayn Smid, Mark Bright (captain)
Reserves
Matt Cornish, Will Davis, Alex Penny, Harry Casson, Arthur Ellis, Alex Walker, Aaron Penberthy

Yorkshire Carnegie
Chris Elder, Jonah Holmes, Andy Forsyth, Peter Lucock, Steve McColl, Joe Ford, Alex Davies; Lewis Boyce, Phil Nilsen, Sione Faletau, Ben West, Matt Smith, Ollie Stedman, Richard Mayhew, Ryan Burrows (captain)
Reserves
Mike Mayhew, Mike Cusack, Matt Beesley, Mike Myerscough, Richard Beck, Max Green, Max Wright

Referee – Ian Tempest
Attendance – 966

Ealing Trailfinders vs London Scottish

Ealing Trailfinders ran in 11 tries to book their place in the Greene King IPA Championship play-offs for the first time.

Arthur Ellis, Miles Mantella and Will Harries all scored a brace of tries and Rory Clegg added seven conversions and a penalty, while his first try in green and white brought up the four-try bonus.

The match was thrilling entertainment and the 3G pitch and sun belting down ensured both teams were given free rein to express themselves with the ball in hand and neither side failed to obliged.

It didn’t take long for the scoring to start when Clegg knocked over a penalty in the first half. Joe Munro, Alun Walker and Miles Mantella then ran in tries before the quarter-hour mark.

Munro was on the end of a counter-attack led by Phil Chesters and supported by Arthur Ellis. Walker was driven over from a rolling maul, while Mantella swooped on Clegg’s pass to touch down against his old club.

Ewan McQuillin opened Scottish’s account in similar fashion to Walker, but Ealing Trailfinders hit back immediately when Clegg finished off another backline move in the corner.

As Ealing Trailfinders continued to impose themselves on proceedings Ellis took a quick tap penalty to barge over and Walker was again driven over from a line out.

Scottish found their rhythm after the break and wing Jason Harries found space to find race clear. His namesake Will Harries then scored his first before Matt Marler made it three for Scottish.

Peter Lydon came off the bench and showed Ealing Trailfinders what they can expect when he joins next season by scoring just before the hour mark.

From then on though Ealing Trailfinders re-imposed themselves on the match and added four more. Ellis, Mantella and Harries all scored their second and as the clocked ticked down Josh Davies came off the bench and promptly rounded off yet another attacking move.

London Scottish enjoyed the last word to end a tough week at the Athletic Ground in positive mood when Alex Coombes raced home on the final whistle.

Scorers
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Munro 3, Walker 9, 31, Mantella 14, 71, Clegg 26, Ellis 34, 67, Harries 48, 77, Davies 79), Conversions (Clegg 3, 9, 31, 67, 71, 77, 79), Penalties (Clegg 1)
London Scottish
Tries (McQuillin 18, Harries 45, Marler 51, Lydon 57, Coombes 80), Conversions (Sheppard 18, 51)

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

London Scottish
Craig Holland, Ben Rath, Robbie Fergusson (captain), Tom Galbraith, Jason Harries, Harry Sheppard, Ed Hoadley; Grant Shiells, Dan Koroi, Ewan McQuillin, Dom McGeekie, Alex Woolford, Matt Marley, Joe Atkinson, Dave Sisi
Reserves
Michael Liness, Jonny Harris, Phil Cringle, Alec Coombes, Josh Barton, George Cullen, Peter Lydon

Referee – Jack Makepeace
Attendance – 896
STORM Watches Man of the Match – Luke Carter

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

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

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

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

Our Sponsors

Mizuno Logo
Lords Building Merchants Logo
David Lloyd Health Club Logo
Brunel University Logo
Sponsor Logos - _0019_Arnold Hill Logo
Sponsor Logos - _0011_Healthshare Logo
Grilleville
The Turmeric Co Logo
Ikon-Dental-Logo-Player-Sponsors
Sponsor Logos - _0006_Physique Logo
Windosr Hill Logo
Sponsor-Logos-Novotel
Perfect-Crystal-Windows-Sponsor-logo
Acai-Berry-Sponsor-logo
O4Life logo
Sinton Andrews
Contested
Become a partner About our partners Contact Us How to Find Us

TRAILFINDERS – THE TRAVEL EXPERTS

Trailfinders Travel Logo

For Conferences, Corporate Days, Weddings and Parties

© 2025 EALING RUGBY CLUB IS A TRADING NAME OF THE EALING FOOTBALL CLUB (RUGBY UNION) LIMITED WHICH IS INCORPORATED WITH LIMITED LIABILITY UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES ACT 1965 UNDER NO. 30274R.

PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS & CONDITIONS