Author Archives: Paul Clarke

Ealing Trailfinders will now have one extra reason to keep an eye on the 2015 Rugby World Cup after Andrei Radoi helped Romania book their place at the tournament.

The hooker started all three of the Oaks victories in the European Nations Cup/Rugby World Cup qualification. First came wins at home to Portugal and away to Russia and then following a two-week break, Romania beat Spain in front of their home crowd to book their place at England 2015, along with Georgia.

Currently they are in second place behind their east European neighbours and if it remains that way they will be placed in a pool alongside France, Ireland, Italy and Canada. If they overtake their Georgia though they will face defending champions New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and the Africa 1 side.

“We’d prefer the group with New Zealand,” Radoi said. “You’ll only get one chance to play against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium, so we want to play that game. It is very important for us to finish in first place. We always want to be the team that finishes first.”

The top two places will be decided on Saturday 15 March, when Radoi and Romani travel away to take on Georgia in front of a full house in Tbilisi’s National Stadium. When they met in 2014 the two sides drew 9-9 in Romania.

“There will be a lot of people in the stadium,” he said. “Last time we played there, there were 40,000 spectators and everyone was cheering for Georgia. But we won’t think about that, we will be concentrated on winning.”

The 26-year-old Radoi has now won 33 caps for Romania since his debut against the Czech Republic in 2008 and he scored his second international try against Portugal.

Romania are level with Georgia at the top of the European Nations Cup/Rugby World Cup qualification standings, but second on points difference.

Romania have a proud record in Rugby World Cup history. They took part in the inaugural tournament in 1987 and have qualified for each tournament since.

“Everyone is so happy in Romania,” he added. “Now we must think about the World Cup and prepare for the World Cup because it is such an important competition and we want to do well there.”

Romania celebrate booking their place at RWC2015

Dual registered player Jack Clifford makes his first appearance for Ealing Trailfinders since September 2013 when Bedford Blues visit Vallis Way in the Greene King IPA Championship on Friday.

Clifford will form a back-row with Ed Siggery and captain Mat Evans.

The number 8 is one of four dual-registered Harlequins players in the squad, along with last week’s STORM Watches man of the match George Merrick, who lines-up in the second row with Adam Preocanin.

Max Crumpton and Harry Sloan meanwhile start on the bench.

Andrei Radoi goes back into the team after he helped take Romania to the brink of qualification for Rugby World Cup 2015 in recent weeks and the hooker will pack-down between props Conor Carey and Ryan Storer.

There is one change in the back-line from the team who lost to Leeds Carnegie last time out, where Tom Bedford (left) comes in at centre for Chris Kinloch.

Ealing Trailfinders v Bedford Blues, Friday 14 February, KO 19.45
15 Andrew Henderson
14 Sam Wardingley
13 Ronald McLean
12 Tom Bedford
11 Phil Chesters
10 Ben Ward
9 Morgan Thompson
1 Ryan Storer
2 Andrei Radoi
3 Conor Carey
4 Adam Preocanin
5 George Merrick
6 Mat Evans (Captain)
7 Ed Siggery
8 Jack Clifford
Reserves
16 Max Crumpton
17 Steve Neville
18 Tim Brockett
19 Steve Pape
20 TJ Anderson
21 Tom Parker
22 Harry Sloan

Ealing Trailfinders’ turn around in form in past few months has been best personified by the try-scoring feats of Phil Chesters.

While the wing was regularly on the scoresheet in National 1 and National 2 he took a little longer to find his groove after promotion to the Greene King IPA Championship.

He scored in the team’s opening match of the season against London Scottish, but then had to wait over two months for his next tries, when he grabbed a double in the team’s first win of the season, away to Jersey in the league.

“It just shows how far we have come as a squad and how we have really bedded into this league,” he said. “Everyone knows what is required from each other in order for us not only to be in games, but to now go on to win games.

“We are really starting to show how dangerous we are in attack and creating more opportunities throughout the game. This is great for me as a winger, being able to get my hands on the ball more and trying to improve on that try tally.”

Chesters is up to eight tries in the league following efforts in recent weeks against Moseley, Cornish Pirates and Leeds Carnegie. He also capped a fine counter-attacking move in the final play of the match against Leinster ‘A’ in the British and Irish Cup.

Bedford Blues’ visit on Friday is his next chance to add to his tally. When the sides met back in October Chesters came off the bench in the match that was broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Both sides have established reputations for positive, attacking rugby and while Bedford haven’t quite matched the form that took them to the Championship play-offs last year, they have shown they have the nous that has helped them establish themselves as a tricky Championship team.

“Bedford are a quality side, just look at their table finish last season,” he said. “They may not be quite replicating that form so far this year, but they are not to be underestimated. We know what is coming on Friday night and we all know what is required in order to get a positive result.

“Expect what you have seen all season from the boys, 100% passion and commitment for 80 minutes. We are looking to work on those areas that weren’t quite good enough against Leeds and deliver a strong performance. We aren’t in this league to make up the numbers and it is games like these where we need to stop the talking and go out there and prove ourselves.”

Ealing Trailfinders hooker Andrei Radoi is within touching distance of a place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England after he helped his side to two victories in qualification.

While his Ealing teammates were taking on Cornish Pirates and Leeds Carnegie in the Greene King IPA Championship, Radoi was away with the Romania team preparing for test matches against Portugal and Russia.

The 26-year-old scored his country’s second try in the 24-0 win over Portugal and then started the 34-3 victory in Krasnador. The two wins leave Romania in second place in their European Nations Cup/Rugby World Cup qualification standings, equal at the top with Georgia and 10 points ahead of Russia in third place.

“It was a hugely emotional time,” Radoi said. “I was crying a bit. Not just me, but all the guys. After we calmed down though we went out and celebrated together.

“My try was very simple; just a pick and go after a very good backs move. I was so proud to help the team and while I would prefer to play well than score a try, this time I was able to play well and score a try.”

The Oaks next host Spain, who competed in the 1999 Rugby World Cup, while Georgia face Russia at home. If both home teams win then they will confirm their places in the tournament that runs from 18 September until 31 October.

Should Romania remain in second place they will be placed in a pool alongside France, Ireland, Italy and Canada. If they overtake their fellow east Europeans they will face defending champions New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and the Africa 1 side.

Romania have a proud record in Rugby World Cup history. They took part in the inaugural tournament in 1987 and have qualified for each tournament since.

“It is a huge responsibility to play for your country, to represent them and to make sure we keep up our qualification record in the World Cup.

“I hope I have made Ealing fans proud and I look forward to giving them something to cheer when we play against Belford Blues on Friday.”

New signing Max Crumpton will go straight into the starting line-up for the match against Leeds Carnegie in the Greene King IPA Championship on Saturday.

The hooker has signed as a dual-registered played from Harlequins and he will pack down between props Conor Carey and Steve Neville. He is on loan to Quins from Saracens and has also featured for Plymouth Albion this season, for whom he made four appearances in the Championship and British and Irish Cup.

The 20-year-old has also played for England at U16, U18 and U20 level, including at the 2012 IRB Junior World Cup.

Crumpton’s fellow dual-registered Harlequins player George Merrick meanwhile will start in the engine room alongside Steve Pape, with Dan Collier providing cover off the bench.

Mat Evans moves round the back-row to start as number 8 and continues as captain from the match with Cornish Pirates last Sunday. Ed Siggery joins him in the back-row, while Adam Preocanin starts in the number six jersey having overcome a calf strain that ruled out of last weekend’s fixture.

The only change in the back-line comes with Chris Kinloch joining Ronnie McLean in the centres.

On the wing Phil Chesters will be out to add to the seven tries he has scored in the Championship this season and which puts him joint-fourth in the league try-scoring charts.

Ealing Trailfinders v Leeds Carnegie, Saturday 8 February, KO 15.00
15 Andrew Henderson
14 Sam Wardingley
13 Chris Kinloch
12 Ronnie McLean
11 Phil Chesters
10 Ben Ward
9 Morgan Thompson
1 Steve Neville
2 Max Crumpton
3 Conor Carey
4 Steve Pape
5 George Merrick
6 Adam Preocanin
7 Ed Siggery
8 Mat Evans (captain)
Reserves
16 Richard Townsend
17 Ryan Storer
18 Tim Brockett
19 Dan Collier
20 TJ Anderson
21 Stuart Commins
22 Tom Wheatcroft

The last time Steve Neville and Ealing Trailfinders took on Leeds Carnegie they were on the wrong end of a 64-3 loss to the Yorkshire side only four matches into their debut season in the Greene King IPA Championship.

Since then Leeds have continued their winning ways to firmly establish themselves among the teams eyeing a place in the Aviva Premiership next season, while Ealing have enjoyed a recent surge in form that has closed the gap to the clubs above them in the league to just two points.

“We’ve improved quite a lot,” Neville said. “We went there not really understating what sort of state we were in and we didn’t really know what to expect up there and came off a bad defeat, but we’ve improved quite a lot since then.

“A couple of weeks later we started picking up going into Christmas and we started to turn our performances round and late-December and now in January we’ve started getting points from our performances.”

Leeds are currently third in the Championship and under the guidance of head coach James Lowe have established themselves as a team able to play a entertaining style of rugby.

They have lost once in their last 10 fixtures and that was away to promotion favourites London Welsh, but they beat Bristol Rugby away and last weekend put 50 points on Bedford Blues at Headingley.

Running rugby

“Their backs are good with the ball, but their forwards are quite comfortable on the ball too,” Neville said. “Everyone wants to carry and they are quite a quick team. They have a good all over game and can attack from all areas and it is something we have to be aware of this week.

“We are similar to Leeds as we like to play and we have forwards who like to get their hands on the ball and want to get on the ball and play running rugby. Hopefully we’re coming out of the wet season and into some dry times and will get some more points with our performances.”

Ealing go into the match after another encouraging away performance, this time away to Cornish Pirates. Mike Cudmore’s team were leading with five minutes remaining, but a late try allowed the home side to claim a share of the spoils.

Even so claiming two points and scoring three tries against the team sixth in the table and at a tricky venue was an excellent return and ensured that the team were in good heart, something which helped the six hour return trip pass more quickly.

“The journey back was good,” Neville added. “When the final whistle went we were disappointed not to get the win, but Mike said in the huddle not to be disheartened as we would definitely have taken a two-point draw before the game.

“We were in good spirits on the journey home and in training the focus was not to dwell on the match and get over it as soon as possible, so we’ve just cracked on.”

Ealing Trailfinders scrum-half Morgan Thompson was left ruing a missed two points against Cornish Pirates in the Greene King IPA Championship on Sunday, but aware that the draw in the Duchy shows how far the team have come this season.

Ealing were leading 18-11 with five minutes to go thanks to a brace of tries from Phil Chesters and one from Andrew Henderson, when their left-wing Kyle Moyle scored a try that fly-half Keiran Hallett converted to tie the score.

It was an impressive performance from Mike Cudmore’s team and they had the hosts scrambling to hold them out at times, on a sticky pitch against a side that reached the Championship play-offs last season

“It is quite frustrating, we wanted to come away with more and should have, but coming down to Cornwall and getting two points considering we didn’t have a great amount of possession is positive, so we’ll take two points as it closes the gap to jersey to two,” Thompson said.

Despite Cornish Pirates taking the lead two minutes in from a penalty, Ealing were the next to score when Henderson dotted down. It was a pattern that continued throughout the match as the Ealing backline continually had the Pirates’ defence in all manner of problems whenever they had the chance to stretch their legs.

While the pitch didn’t appear made for running rugby after a week of heavy rain the Pirates’ ground staff had worked liked Trojans to make the pitch playable and ensured that it passed two pitch inspections before kick-off.

“We were free flowing; when we had the ball we had them under a lot of stress and they didn’t know how to cope with us, especially in the backline, it is just a shame we didn’t get away with the win,” Thompson added.

“It was a very sticky pitch because Phil was at full pace and very nearly getting caught for his tries. We are a side that likes to get the ball and run the ball and it showed today. When we have possession like that we can carve teams up.”

The draw did at least mean that while Ealing are still bottom, they have closed the gap on Jersey to two points.

It also continued the team’s good run of form since the start of 2014, something that is vital the side continues with three consecutive home matches coming up, against Leeds Carnegie, Bedford Blues and London Welsh.

“The improvement each game is getting bigger and bigger and with games like Leeds and London Welsh coming up we need that consistency,” Thompson said, “so it is back to the drawing board tomorrow and work towards Leeds on Saturday.”