Author Archives: Paul Clarke

The wait is over.

It has been a big three months for everyone involved with Ealing Trailfinders. We have all worked extremely hard to make sure that our preparation for life in National 1 went as positively and successfully as possible.

After countless evenings of running, tackling, running, falling over, running, lifting weights, running and a little bit more running we entered the month of August and pre-season friendlies. We played three matches, won two versus Newport and Bedford and lost one against Moseley. We believe as a squad that we have come a long way since the first game, each week addressing areas where we weren’t good enough and pushing ourselves individually and collectively to be better.

This period highlights potential banana skins and obviously there are lots of things to work on and improve, but at the same time there have been plenty of positives that have outweighed the negatives. We were a little disappointed not to have won all three games leading into the season, but that is what pre-season is – the chance to learn where we weren’t quite producing the level of quality that is required and the time to iron out any problems that we feel need addressing.

The season kicks off this weekend with a game at home to Loughborough Students. For those who have made it down during August we really appreciate the support and obviously a special mention has to go to the small but very vocal contingent that made their way up to Moseley last weekend. From the whole squad, thank you, we look forward to hearing you again and again over the coming months.

We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to get down to Vallis Way this weekend, watch some exciting league rugby and mingle with the new squad post match in the bar.

This weekend not only features the season kicking off, but you may have seen or heard through social media that something exciting is being revealed this Saturday… all I’m going to say is keep your eyes peeled.

The Jack Fishwick charity lunch on 4 October when we play Cinderford at home is selling extremely fast, so if you fancy some good food and entertainment, Q&A with some of the players, and of course some exciting rugby then get in contact with Sue ASAP on sue.chandler@etprm.com

Jack and his family will be attending the lunch and the match that day and is very much looking forward to returning to a club where he has many fond memories both on and off the field.

Phil

Ealing Trailfinders were unable to end their pre-season preparations with a third straight victory over a team from a higher division, but they did score three tries against Moseley from the Greene King IPA Championship.

Once again Ben Ward’s side made a strong start and after they reclaimed their kickoff the ball moved wide to the left wing where the returning Phil Chesters dived over for his second try of pre-season.

Moseley had the chance to hit back after ex-Ealing Trailfinders flanker Ed Siggery won a penalty, but after the hosts offended at the ensuing lineout Matt Jarvis used the prevailing wind to hammer the visitors deep into opposition territory.

The visitors went down to 14 men just after the quarter of an hour mark when hooker Alun Walker was send off for a dangerous tackle and while it momentarily reinvigorated Moseley’s attack Ealing’s defence held firm.

With the wind behind them Ealing Trailfinders continued to enjoy the bulk of territory and possession and they continued to stretch the play whenever they had the chance.

Sam Wardingley and Chris Kinloch combined well on the right to attack the line, Kevin Davis and James Love came close to opening up the Moseley defence down their left flank and only scrambled defence stopped Tom Brown after Danny Kenny had put him clear.

Moseley then went down to 14 men when prop forward Simon Gardiner was send off for punching Will Davies, however the home sided ended the first half on the attack after a break by Chris Brightwell.

The teams agreed to return to 15 players at halftime and soon after the restart Love went into action with a try-saving tackle.

Both sides had made a number of changes at the break and the match took time to find its rhythm, but eventually it was Moseley scrum-half David Brazier who broke the deadlock with a sniping try following a rolling maul to the line.

Moments later Moseley fly-half Ollie Thomas put the hosts ahead with a penalty from straight in front of the posts and then wing Scott Armstrong swept up a loose ball to run in a try.

Either side had their chances to attack, but as the wind picked up the defences stayed on top. Eventually Ealing scored their second when Arthur Ellis dotted down after a rolling maul, but Moseley hit back straight from kick off when Armstrong scored another opportunist try that Thomas converted.

Ealing Trailfinders enjoyed the final word though when wing James Copsey found space on the right to sprint home.

Ealing Trailfinders
James Love, Chris Kinloch, Sam Wardingley, Tom Wheatcroft, Phil Chesters, Matt Jarvis, Alex Walker; Kevin Davis, Alun Walker, Nathan Buck, Michael Walker-Fitton, Paul Spivey, Danny Kenny, Arthur Ellis, Tom Brown (captain)
Reserves
Will Davis, Andrei Radoi, Ignas Darkintis, Gary Johnson, Carwyn Jones, Llewelyn Jones, Alex Bradley, Morgan Thompson, Ben Ward, Andy Reay, George Eastwell, James Copsey
Moseley
Mike Penn, Drew Cheshire, Will Owen, Greg King, Scott Armstrong, Ollie Thomas, David Brazier; Tom Warren, Adam Caves, Simon Gardiner, Nile Dacres, Mike Powell, Ed Siggery, Joseph Carpenter, Chris Brightwell
Reserves
Craig Voisey, Stefan Thorp, Scott Tolmie, Greg Charlton, Sam Brown, Caolan Ryan
Anthony Carter

James Love and Phil Chesters return to the starting line-up for Ealing Trailfinders’ final pre-season match away to Moseley on Saturday, having missed the home match against Bedford Blues.

Ben Ward’s side has already enjoyed home wins over Newport and Bedford Blues and the final test is against a side that won both the Greene King IPA Championship and British and Irish Cup matches at Billesley Common last season.

Love slots in at fullback, while Chesters takes up his usual position on the left wing. Chris Kinloch starts on the right wing aiming to add to the two tries he has already scored in pre-season, while Tom Wheatcroft and Sam Wardingley form the centre pairing.

“It is the last opportunity for guys to impress and get game time under their belt before the first league game,” Director of Rugby Ben Ward said.

“What’s been great so far is that no matter how many changes we have made during the week or during the game the guys have all responded and performed well. This will stand us in good stead for a long season allowing us to keep guys fresh.

“Moseley had a fantastic season last year and beat us three times in total so we know how tough a challenge we have in front of us. We have to improve on last week’s performance and strive for the perfect game.”

Tom Brown will again captain the side from number 8 and is flanked by Arthur Ellis and Danny Kenny; behind them Alex Walker and Matt Jarvis from an all-Welsh halfback combination.

Scotland ‘A’ international Alun Walker begins at hooker, between props Kevin Davis and Nathan Buck, while Michael Walker-Fitton and Paul Spivey start in the engine room.

Ealing Trailfinders v Moseley, Billesley Common, 15.00
1 Kevin Davis
2 Alun Walker
3 Nathan Buck
4 Mike Walker Fitton
5 Paul Spivey
6 Danny Kenny
7 Arthur Ellis
8 Tom Brown (captain)
9 Alex Walker
10 Matt Jarvis
11 Phil Chesters
12 Tom Wheatcroft
13 Sam Wardingley
14 Chris Kinloch
15 James Love
Reserves
16 Will Davis
17 Andrei Radoi
18 Ignas Darkintis
19 Gary Johnson
20 Carwyn Jones
21 Llewelyn Jones
22 Alex Bradley
23 Morgan Thompson
24 Ben Ward
25 Andy Reay
26 George Eastwell
27 James Copsey

Ealing Trailfinders hooker Alun Walker knows to expect another tough battle as he and his teammates wrap up their pre-season preparations with an away match against Moseley on Saturday.

Ben Wards’ team travels up the M40 to meet the south Birmingham side in good heart; following a 43-19 win over Newport and a 34-24 victory against Bedford Blues.

The Scot twice played the side from Billesley Common during his time with Nottingham in the Greene King IPA Championship last season and he has no illusions of what lies in store.

“I played them twice last year and we lost twice against them last season,” he said. “They are a very forward driven side, so I think the forwards will get a really good test when it comes to the scrum and the breakdown, especially the breakdown because they fight for everything.

“It will be the first game on grass this year and I think we will try and play a similar style of rugby and fingers crossed we’ll go up there and put in another good performance to wrap up pre-season.”

The 23-year-old Scotland ‘A’ international walked through the doors at Vallis Way following the conclusion of the 2013-14 season.

He has settled into the squad seamlessly so much so that he captained the team in their opening pre-season fixture against Newport and marked the occasion with a try.

“It has been really good,” he said. “The boys are very social and very accepting so I felt part of the club straight away.

“It helped knowing Kinners (Chris Kinloch) before I came down and I played rugby with him when I was 17 at Currie and we won the championship, so it has been a really easy club to settle into.”

While the two home matches have so far returned two wins against sides from higher divisions, Walker and the rest of the Ealing Trailfinders squad are well aware that there is still room for improvement before the season starts at home to Loughborough Students on Saturday 6 September.

“There was a spell in the game (versus Bedford) where we shut off and allowed them to run in a couple of tries so again there has been a big focus on the driving maul,” he said.

“The scrum has been so dominant in the first two games and if you can give such a dominant performance throughout the season it makes the backs life really easy.”

Ealing Trailfinders continued their impressive form in pre-season with a six-try win against last season’s Greene King IPA Championship rivals.

It only took 10 minutes for Ben Ward’s team to get on the scoresheet when Club captain Tom Brown marked his debut when he scooted over following a scrum after a yellow card for Bedford flanker Josh Buggea had reduced Bedford to 14 men.

Soon after Alex Bradley found the corner to increase the lead to 10 points, before the Blues responded through England U20 World Cup winner Nathan Earle.

The Saracens dual-registration player finished off in the corner to reduce the deficit, but Ealing Trailfinders soon responded when Michael Walker-Fitton went over for the third try.

A Bedford penalty made it 15-8 but Trailfinders’ Tom Parker then dotted down in the corner, though again Bedford replied when skipper Nick Fenton-Wells crossed the whitewash before the break.

Bedford started the second half strongly and grabbed tries through Eoin Sherrif and Paul Tupai to draw to within three points.

However, the hosts had the last word; firstly through Ronnie McLean who dotted down between the posts and the wing Chris Kinloch, who scored his second of pre-season.

Ealing Trailfinders complete their pre-season fixtures next Saturday, 30 August, away to Moseley, kickoff 15.00.

Ealing Trailfinders
Jarvis, Kinloch, McLean, Reay, Wardingley, Ward, Walker; Kilbane, Radoi, Penny, Walker-Fitton, Carwyn Jones, O’Connell, Bradley, Brown (captain)
Reserves
Kevin Davis, Karl Gibson, Ignas Darkintas, Gary Johnson, Llewelyn Jones,
Danny Kenny, Morgan Thompson, Tom Wheatcroft, James Copsey
Bedford Blues
Jim Wigglesworth, Nathan Earle, Henry Staff, Ollie Dodge, Dean Adamson, Steffan Jones, Darryl Veenendaal; Billy Moss, Jared Saunders, Phil Boulton, Eoin Sheriff, Ben Gulliver, Justin Blanchet, Josh Buggea, Nick Fenton-Wells (captain)
Reserves
Tom Williams, TJ Harris, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Paul Tupai, Mike Howard, Kennet O’Neill, Joe Vandermolen, Kieran Duffin, Jake Sharp, Steve Ellis, Micheal Le Bourgeois, Pat Tapley, James Pritchard

Newly appointed Club captain Tom Brown will lead the side for the first time when they take on Bedford Blues in their second pre-season match on Saturday.

Brown missed the 43-19 win over Newport, but he will pack down at number 8 between flankers Alex Bradley and Sean O’Connell.

The match at Vallis Way kicks off at 15.00.

“Bedford Blues are a great team who play an expansive game and on our new surface it should be quick and exciting to watch,” Director of Rugby Ben Ward said. “They beat us twice last year and have strengthened their squad further over the summer so will be a great challenge to see where we are.

“Last week was a solid start but I would like to see us improve in all areas. We need to be more clinical in attack as well as putting in a big defensive shift.

“Selection wise we are able to move some people around and look at different combinations this week. Some guys are coming back from injury and need games like this to get their sharpness back. It promises to be a cracking match so get down and support your team.”

Ward has again named a large squad and he will start as fly-half, alongside scrum-half Tom Parker, who came off the bench against Newport.

Romanian hooker Andrei Radoi also makes his first appearance of pre-season and reserves Karl Gibson, Ignas Darkintas and Gary Johnson are all likely to enjoy a first run-out before the big kick off.

New signing James Copsey goes straight into the squad and will begin on the bench.

Ealing Trailfinders v Bedford Blues, Vallis Way, 15.00
1 Jamie Kilbane
2 Andrei Radoi
3 Alex Penny
4 Mike Walker Fitton
5 Carwyn Jones
6 Sean O’Connell
7 Alex Bradley
8 Tom Brown (captain)
9 Tom Parker
10 Ben Ward
11 Sam Wardingley
12 Andy Reay
13 Ronnie McLean
14 Chris Kinloch
15 Matt Jarvis
Reserves
16 Kevin Davis
17 Karl Gibson
18 Ignas Darkintas
19 Gary Johnson
20 Llewelyn Jones
21 Danny Kenny
22 Morgan Thompson
23 Tom Wheatcroft
24 James Copsey

Ealing Trailfinders are pleased to announce that James Copsey has signed with the Club for the coming season.

The versatile back joins from Jersey where he scored 32 tries in 67 appearances. He played in the 28-18 loss against Ealing Trailfinders at St Peter’s in November 2013.

Prior to his four-year spell in the Channel Islands he played for Esher in the Championship, where he scored 13 tries in 24 appearances.

“James gives us a bit more depth in the back line,” Ealing Trailfinders Director of Coaching Ben Ward said.

“He has a good try scoring record and can play a number of positions. He has a lot of experience in the Championship and at National 1 and this will prove very valuable throughout the season.”

The 29-year-old Copsey is equally comfortable at fullback, centre or wing and fans can enjoy an early taste of what he offers in the video below.

Ealing Trailfinders’ Chris Kinloch may have had the honour of running in the first ever try on the new 3G synthetic pitch, against Newport on Saturday, but the Scot knows that the team have to step up their performances in the weeks to come.

Kinloch’s try came in the first minute after he had linked with new boys Matt Jarvis and James Love to race clear on the right wing. Six more followed for Ealing Trailfinders and three for Newport as the hosts won 43-19.

Championship side Bedford Blues visit Vallis Way on Saturday and then the team complete their pre-season preparations away to Moseley on 30 August. A week later they begin the National 1 season at home to Kinloch’s former side, Loughborough Students.

“There are lots of things we can tighten up,” he said. “The way we look after the ball in the contact area, the way we present the ball for the nine, getting it clean on the plate for him as we want to attack off that ball.

“There were one or two missed tackles and we were a bit rusty out there, but it is the first time we’ve played in two or three months so it is certainly a decent enough starting block, but plenty to work on still.”

After Kinloch had opened the scoring the pack added a second when they won a penalty try when Newport illegally stopped a driving scrum. In the second half Alun Walker, Matt Jarvis, Andy Reay, Danny Kenny and Phil Chesters also added tries.

With a firm pitch underfoot and blues skies overhead the team showed the same attacking intent that has become their hallmark in recent years.

“We’ve been in for seven weeks so to get out there and get our first game under our belts is pretty massive for the boys,” Kinloch added. “Everyone was chomping at the bit to get playing, so it was nice to get out there and put some of that stuff into practice and get the win.

“Everyone was worried about what it was going to feel like when you get tackled, but once you’re out there and the adrenaline is flowing you really don’t notice the pitch and it is a really good firmness.”

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce that Tom Brown has been selected as captain for the 2014-15 season.

The 31-year-old Brown joined Ealing Trailfinders following one season at Jersey and with his experience on the pitch he has already proven to be a popular member of the squad.

“It is an honour to have been selected as club captain for Ealing Trailfinders,” Brown said. “Here at Ealing Trailfinders there is a lot of passion and drive to succeed, both on the pitch and off it, something that is reflected in the infrastructure of the club.

“I can’t wait to get into the season with this bunch of players because I have seen in pre-season how hard each and every one of them has pushed themselves for each other already.

“This is a hard league full of tough teams and I am looking forward to the added challenge of geeing up the boys for each individual battle.”

The Doncaster-born Brown qualified to play for Wales through his parents and opted to play for the Principality at U21 level.

He featured at the 2004 U21 IRB World Championship against South Africa, England, France and Russia and that year he also represented the Wales Rugby League side at the European Nations Cup.

At club level he came through at Hartpury College where he studied Sports Conditioning and Coaching before going on to play for Worcester Warriors, London Welsh, Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons before he joined Jersey.

“I’m delighted that Tom has accepted the role,” Director of Coaching Ben Ward said. “Right from the start he has commanded the respect of the other players and been a leader in training.

“He trains with great intensity and will lead the team with pride. We are also fortunate to have a lot of experienced players at the club who will be able to help Tom on and off the pitch.”