Author Archives: Paul Clarke

We are extremely proud to add another local school to the Community Schools Programme. North Ealing Primary School have become the latest partner to benefit from professional rugby coaching from the Academy team.

New Academy coach Sean O’Connell will be delivering a fun programme based around games and high participation. Our main aim is to develop a love for the game amongst the kids.

Academy Director John Lacey said “This new Partnership with North Ealing is a great example of what a club/school partnership can look like, Primary school kids are a bit younger than our target players but there is such an appetite for rugby out there that I’m sure that both the club and school will see the benefits. Our partnership with Elthorne Park and Drayton Manor High Schools are going really well and we are keen to increase our presence in the local community. JC Lacour is doing a fantastic job reaching out to schools and developing strong links, we’ve already held some Cup competitions at the club with more to follow later this year.”

If you are a parent or teacher at a local school and would like to hear more about what we can offer your school, we would love to discuss the possibility of developing a partnership with you. For more information contact Academy Director John Lacey or JC Lacour.

The Academy take great pleasure in announcing the addition of ex Ealing Trailfinders Pro Squad player Sean O’Connell to the coaching team.

O’Connell was a part of the 1st XV Squad for two seasons having joined from London Irish where he was part of the Senior Academy. Sean had previously been a member of Ulster Academy and the Irish Exiles programme having impressed in the Youth age groups at Ealing.

Sean has had to retire from competitive rugby due to injury and is keen to remain involved in the game and take up coaching.

Academy Director John Lacey said “I am extremely pleased that Sean will be joining the Academy coaching team, his experience of professional rugby will be invaluable to our players, he shares a belief in skills development and has been impressive in our conversations so far. Sean was a late developer and understands what it takes to reach the top levels of the game, I’m sure he can provide a wealth of knowledge to the boys. Above all else Sean is an Ealing boy, he has gained experience elsewhere but is now giving something back to the club, he epitomises exactly what we are trying to develop within the Academy.”

Sean will work with the Senior Academy and Emerging Player Groups as well as joining the Community Schools programme.

On his appointment O’Connell said ” I am excited to join the Academy and hope to pass on my experience. I played for Ealing Trailfinders as both a youth and senior player and it is nice to back involved at the club.”

Congratulations to U23 back row forward Freddie Avis who has been selected on the bench for Bath United in tonight’s match against Harlequins A at the Twickenham Stoop.

Freddie has played at Ealing Trailfinders throughout Mini and Youth and has been part of the Academy Squad since the beginning and now as part of our ‘Distance’ group of players who are studying around the country but return to play and train during their University breaks.

Freddie studies at Bath University and is one of 4 sets of brothers within the Academy.

Best of luck from all in the Academy and at Ealing Trailfinders.

Ealing Trailfinders Academy U20 24-22 Moseley Academy U20

The second game in our 3 game block saw fellow Championship Academy Moseley visit Vallis Way with an U20 side, greeted by unseasonably fine weather for the week before Christmas.

Ealing started with the better of the possession, played some expansive rugby with real intent and deservedly took the lead, a scrum feed taken against the head allowed impressive No8 Marcus Lowe to carry from the base of the scrum, ride one tackle and link up with scrum half Josh Steadman who sprinted in under the posts.

Possession swung to Moseley which became a theme of the game and they were next to score with a well struck penalty.

Patient approach work saw the Ealing pack gain a line out on the Moseley 5m line, this time it was Ealing’s turn to show their power and Lowe scored from short range

A converted try at the foot of the posts from some strong pick and go’s saw the Birmingham based side within 2 points and in the ascendancy, however a mistake from the restart saw skipper Lowe regain possession again and off load to Hooker Will Day to run in, converted again by Luk. The half drew to a close with a father score by Moseley bringing it back to a 2 point game, 19-17.

The second half was a tense affair, 2 evenly matched sides, cancelling each other out, we became to predictable in attack, making ourselves easy to defend against and ignoring our pace out wide. Moseley enjoyed long periods of territorial dominance but resolute defending kept them at bay, the last 7 minutes raised the pulse of all watching…

Flanker and Man of the Match Tyler Bush pounced on a loose Moseley pass and ran in from his own half showing great pace and power to finish, the missed conversion meant there wasn’t clear space between the sides and as had been the case all day Moseley to their credit attacked with purpose and scored but the Ealing defenders had pushed the opportunity out wide and made the conversion a tough one, it wasn’t to be for Moseley and the kick for extras fell short.

A nervy two minutes remained but despite a few heart attacks the clock ran out and Ealing were the winners.

Congratulations to our fine guests Moseley, really good company and a credit to their Club!

Next up are Nottingham away on January at Ladybanks, another early kick off as we open proceedings for another Championship fixture. Thanks to Ben Ward for making the home fixture possible, it means a lot to the boys to play before the 1st XV.

Finally a huge thank you to our match day sponsor, Mark at MH Construction Services Ltd, very much appreciated mate!!!

Ealing Trailfinders Academy

Steadman L, Saamms, Hitchcock C, Townshend, Walker, Luk, Steadman J, Lowe, Bush, Batt, Martin, Wake, Vosabalavu, Day, Hitchcock T

Replacements

Ajuchi, Joyce, Young, Osuntoki, Avis O, Segre, Nolan-Hutchinson, McCausland-Swan, Vogt, Joseph

Scorers

Tries – Steadman J, Lowe, Day, Bush

Cons – Luk 2