Author Archives: Paul Clarke

REPORT: Ealing Trailfinders 18 – 18 Cornish Pirates

Ealing Trailfinders returned from their trip to far-west Cornwall with two points under their belts following a tough 80 minutes against Cornish Pirates, a team that reached the Championship play-offs last season.

After heavy rain the pitch underwent two pitch inspections, but after a day of sunshine and hard work by the ground staff the pitch was sticky, but overall in good condition come kick off.

With only two minutes gone Cornish fly-half Keiran Hallett opened the scoring with a penalty from in front of the posts, but Ealing didn’t hang around before they hit back.

First Ben Ward nearly put Phil Chesters into the corner with a cross-kick, but moments later tight-head prop Richie Palframan charged through the Pirates’ defence and after quick recycling the ball reached Andrew Henderson who cut inside to score.

Hallett put the hosts back in the lead with his second penalty, but again Ealing responded in positive fashion. First Ward caused problems in the Cornish forwards with a high hanging restart that resulted in a penalty that he pushed narrowly wide.

A moment later he set Ronnie McLean running and from there Henderson broke the line and put Phil Chesters free in space. Ed Siggery carried on the move close to the line, but when zscrum-half Morgan Thompson tried a pick and go, referee Luke Pearce ruled it had been knocked on and Pirates then cleared the danger.

Both teams continued to play good rugby and while Ealing tried to keep the ball moving in the backs, Pirates kept the focus on their powerful forward pack and it was through their loose-head prop Shane Cahill that they added to the score when he latched onto an overthrown lineout and dropped over the line to stretch their lead to 11-5.

Pirate’s forwards appeared set to force their way over again, but a crucial turnover from Tom Bedford allowed Henderson and McLean to race out of their 22, McLean reached the halfway and off-loaded to Chesters who held off Cornish fullback Keiran Goss to score.

Chesters and Henderson then combined in defence to stop Michael Pope had collected a Hallett cross-kick and forced the wing to knock-on. Soon after Thompson cleared the danger to go in 11-10 down at half-time.

The second half picked up where it had left off after the break, with both teams keeping the tempo high. Hassell missed a drop-kick and Ealing wing Sam Wardingley was stopped short of the line by Jake Parker after a break from Bedford.

Eventually Ward landed his first kick of the day to score the first points of the second period and it set up a good period of Ealing pressure that subdued the normally boisterous Mennaye Field crowd.

Just as the crowd started to find their voice and their team went on the attack Bedford raced out of the line to make an interception, he cleared the halfway line and when he saw Chesters outside him he picked out the wing to race home to the corner.

Cornish hit back with three minutes remaining and when Hassell broke the line, it set up the move that resulted in scrum-half Kyle Moyle dotting down in the corner and Hassell then converted from the touchline to tie the score.

The fly-half then missed a penalty that would have won the match and from the resulting restart Stuart Commins cleared the ball to touch to ensure the Ealing returned home with a welcome two points in their locker.

Ealing Trailfinders
Andrew Henderson, Sam Wardingley, Ronnie McLean, Tom Bedford, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Morgan Thompson, Ryan Storer, Sam Wilkes, Richard Palframan, Steve Pape, Dan Collier, Matt Evans (captain), Ed Siggery, Sean O’Connell
Reserves
Richard Townsend, Steve Neville, Conor Carey, Gavin Curry, TJ Anderson, Stuart Commins, Chris Kinloch
Cornish Pirates
Kieran Goss, Mike Pope, Alex Dancer, Junior Fatialofa, Kyle Moyle, Kieran Hallett, Tom Kessell; Shane Cahill, Tom Channon, Alan Paver, Neale Patrick, Darren Barry, Chris Morgan (capt), Joe Atkinson, Aaron Carpenter
Reserves
Rob Elloway, Jack Andrew, Jake Parker, Alex Cheesman, Angus Sinclair, Tom Hendrickson, Craig Holland

Referee – Luke Pearce
Attendance – 1,127

TRAINING SUNDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

We regret that due to the condition of the pitches at Trailfinders, they are still heavily waterlogged, ALL Rugby Rats & Minis training has been cancelled at Trailfinders for this Sunday.

Evans captain for Pirates return

Matt Evans will captain Ealing Trailfinders on the visit to his former side Cornish Pirates.

Ealing take on Pirates at Mennaye Field in Penzance in the Greene King IPA Championship on Sunday aiming to avenge a 31-17 loss in September and it is a venue that the back rower knows well having spent six seasons in the Duchy.

“It is a massive honour for me to captain Ealing against a team like Cornish Pirates,” he said. “It will be great to be back at a club where I played for six seasons. I have some great friends down there and it is really exciting to be leading the team out in what is a hugely significant match for the team.

“There has been lots of change since I was there and a lot of new players, but I still have a lot of friends. They are very loyal and very partisan in terms of their support, but I hope to lead us to victory against a team that I know well.”

Evans takes over as captain from Adam Preocanin, who is out with a calf injury and makes up a back-row with Ed Siggery and number 8 Sean O’Connell.

Dan Collier comes in for Preocanin in the second row and will have the chance to impress and secure a place for future matches when he packs down alongside Steve Pape in his first start having come off the bench for the past two matches.

Further forward the on-loan Richard Palframan will make his first start the front row alongside hooker Sam Wilkes and Ryan Storer.

In the back-line there is only one change, where Sam Wardingley takes over on the wing from Owen Bruynseels.

Ealing Trailfinders v Cornish Pirates, Sunday 2 February, KO 14.00
15 Andrew Henderson
14 Sam Wardingley
13 Ronnie McLean
12 Tom Bedford
11 Phil Chesters
10 Ben Ward
9 Morgan Thompson
1 Ryan Storer
2 Sam Wilkes
3 Richard Palframan
4 Steve Pape
5 Dan Collier
6 Matt Evans (captain)
7 Ed Siggery
8 Sean O’Connell
Reserves
16 Richard Townsend
17 Steve Neville
18 Conor Carey
19 Gavin Curry
20 TJ Anderson
21 Stuart Commins
22 Chris Kinloch

Academy Emerging Players selected for U23 challenge

Ealing Trailfinders Academy skipper Will Day follows up his two games with the senior Amateur 1st XV with selection for a strong U23 side to face the Combined Services.

He is joined in the match day squad by fellow Emerging Players Oscar Avis, Tyler Bush, Marcus Lowe, Pat Nash and Academy top try scorer Louis Walker.

Sunday is sure to prove the stiffest test of their young careers so far, but all involved with the Academy are sure they can make the step up. Best wishes fellas!

All support will be greatly appreciated for the 14:15 kick off at OMT Rugby Club, War Memorial Sports Ground, Sandy Lodge Lane, HA6 2HT.

U23s name strong side to face Combined Services

Ealing Trailfinders have selected an exciting mix of young talent from the Championship, Development and Academy Squads to take on the Combined Services this Sunday at Old Merchant Taylor’s RFC.

USA U20 Fly Half Will Magie skippers the side, with England U18 2nd Row George Sandford leading a pack containing England Students Jordan Saunders and Jack Pattinson. England U16 Scrum Half Simon Sexton and Ireland U18 Centre Matt Killeen complete the International experience.

Academy skipper Will Day follows up his two games with the senior Amateur 1st XV with selection and he is joined in the match day squad by fellow Emerging Players Oscar Avis, Tyler Bush, Marcus Lowe, Pat Nash and Academy top try scorer Louis Walker.

Many of the side took part in last weeks Development Squad victory over Bridgend Ravens at Vallis Way, and are keen to continue their recent unbeaten run but are well aware of the challenge ahead.

Academy back row forward Tyler Bush follows up his selection for London & South East Division U18 with a starting spot alongside fellow Academy Emerging Player Marcus Lowe.

All support will be greatly appreciated for the 14:15 kick off at OMT Rugby Club, War Memorial Sports Ground, Sandy Lodge Lane, HA6 2HT.

Ealing Trailfinders U23
Ward A, Randel, Flynn, Killeen, Fagan, Magie, Sexton, Lunnon, Pattinson, Bush, Sandford, Lowe, Saunders, Blackhurst, Burman

Replacements
Nash, Heckles, Avis, Walker, Day, Harris, Buller

Cudmore to leave ETRFC after 12 years

Ealing Trailfinders director of rugby and general manager Mike Cudmore is to leave the club when his contract ends on 31 May.

Cudmore has been with the club for 12 years and has guided them from London 3 North to the Greene King IPA Championship, where they are making their debut this current season.

“I have had 12 great years at the club and have been privileged to work with some great people both on and off the pitch,” Cudmore said. “I am proud of my achievements and always said that the day I leave this club I wanted to leave a legacy from which the club can grow.

“We have gone from London 3 North to the Championship in the senior team and have an Academy structure that continues to grow and develop. The Minis, Youth and the Senior Amateurs are all flourishing and off the pitch our Community Programme and Commercial team are delivering best practice.

“I would like to thank my family; my wife Stephanie and children Louise, Craig and Tom for all their tireless support and help over the years, without which any of what I have achieved would not have been possible.”

Cudmore joined the club from London Irish and began his tenure at in a part-time role, but after a few months with the club he became full-time head coach and eventually director of rugby and general manager, which allowed him a say in all areas of the club.

His major success was becoming the first director of rugby to take a club from tier seven to tier two, while garnering plaudits for the open, attacking rugby that he encouraged his teams to play.

“The Executive and the membership would like to wish him every success in his future career,” Chairman Mike Stiff said.

“Twelve years is a very long time as a director of rugby in our sport, especially as his role perhaps uniquely incorporates general manager. He will be a difficult act to follow.”

Forward pack scrums down with BBC

Ealing Trailfinders’ forward pack had a busy morning on Wednesday; first came training and then additional scrum practice, albeit for the benefit of the BBC News cameras.

BBC News report Mike Bushell visited Vallis Way to film a report to explain the new scrum laws ahead of the start of the RSB Six Nations Championship on Saturday.

The live-wire reporter started off filming the difference between the old engagement sequence and the new and then had a go at hooker himself, all the while chatting away to the camera.

Twelve of the forward pack were involved – hookers Cody Blackhurst and Richard Townsend, props Camilo Parilli Ocampo, Jordan Saunders, Conor Carey, Tim Brockett and Ryan Storer, second rows Gavin Curry and Joe McVey and back rowers Ed Siggery, Jack Pattinson and Alex Bradley.

Later on he spoke to Storer and Townsend about life in the front row and how they have adapted to the new directives. Former Lions and England hooker Brian Moore was also on hand to add his experienced voice to the debate.

The report will be broadcast this Saturday (1 February) morning as part of the BBC Breakfast show on BBC One at 6.35, 7.35, 8.35 and 9.35.

Ealing’s forwards showed the BBC’s Mike Bushell (sixth from left) how to scrummage

Radoi chasing World Cup dream

Ealing Trailfinders hooker Andrei Radoi will be absent from the next two Greene King IPA matches as he chases a World Cup dream.

The 26-year-old Romanian is away with his national team for matches against Portugal and Russia that will determine whether the east European nation can continue its proud record of participation in the sport’s biggest competition.

First off they face Portugal at home in Ploiesti on Saturday 1 February and then a week later they travel to Krasnador to face Russia.

“Every match I play for my country is a huge honour for me,” said Radoi, who has won 30 caps since he made his debut against the Czech Republic in 2008.

“Since I started playing rugby I dreamed of playing for my country and now it has happed. Now I want to help my teammates make it to England.”

England will host the eighth edition of the Rugby World Cup from 18 September to 31 October 2015.

The remaining two European qualifiers will either go into a Pool C with holders New Zealand, Argentina, Scotland and the Africa 1 qualifiers or Pool D with France, Ireland, Italy and Canada.

Radoi will miss the league matches away to Cornish Pirates, this Sunday 2 February at home to Leeds Carnegie the following Saturday, 8 February.

Since joining Ealing he has fitted in seamlessly and once his international commitments are over he is looking forward to returning to W13.

“It is a pleasure for me to play for Ealing and I have really enjoyed the matches I have played,” he said. “I hope in the future that we can improve our results and stay in the Championship.

“I want to wish the guys good luck for the next two matches.”

Patience the key for Collier

It has been a long trek for Ealing Trailfinders second-row Dan Collier, but now that he has made it into the first team squad, he has no intention of being anywhere else on match day.

The Ealing-born player began training with Mike Cudmore’s squad at the end of the previous season, but had to wait until two weeks ago for his debut in the British and Irish Cup match away to Cross Keys.

A week on he came off the bench again to make his first start for Ealing in the Greene King IPA Championship, against Moseley in the mud at Billingsley Common.

“It felt really good to get back on the field and play Championship rugby again,” he said. “This week I got told do the same as Cross Keys because I just went around and hit every ruck and cleaned. I made some good line-breaks and they wanted to see that again.

“The nerves got to me, which I think is really good as you’ve got to hit every tackle and hit every line-break. I think you’ve got to feed off those nerves and it makes you play so much better.”

Old rivals

The 29-year-old began playing with local rivals Old Actonians and then moved to London Scottish from the ages of 17-22. After that he switched to London Welsh, then spent a year with Manchester in National 1 and eventually moved to Plymouth Albion in 2009.

He was with the south-west club for three years, but after being promised a contract extension the offer was withdrawn, which left him without a club for the 2012-2013 season.

Collier admits he allowed the situation to get to him and that he “got fat and got lazy.” After missing most of the 2012-2013 season he eventually came down to Vallis Way and after speaking to Cudmore was given an opportunity to train with the squad.

Now he is competing for a place in the engine room with the likes of captain Adam Preocanin, Gavin Curry and Steve Pape.

“Competition is good because you all push each other to aspire to new levels,” he said. “I’ve been pushed to my limits in fitness because I’m always trying to catch up as I’ve been out for a year.

“This year was always going to be a bit niggley for me because I was out for a year and without contact, but now it is just starting to come together again.

“No-one can tell you how good it feels to be out for a year and to get back out there into it and your passion starts going and your heart starts racing. You’re ready to go and it is a great feeling.”

REPORT: Ealing Trailfinders 12 – 22 Moseley

Ealing Trailfinders narrowly missed out on a losing bonus point after Moseley scored a fourth try with the last play of the match.

Ealing appeared set to return back down the M40 with a losing bonus point after tries from Phil Chesters and Ronnie McLean and a Ben Ward conversion, but Moseley’s forwards built up a head of steam from a late lineout and hooker Rhys Buckley was driven over.

Kick-off had been delayed 15 minutes after thunder and lightning descended on Billesley Common and left the pitch drenched.

Morgan Thompson gave an early indication of what the day would be like as he put an early tackle in on Moseley fly-half Will Hooley and both players slid off the pitch.

Moseley went on the attack early and twice they tried to roll a maul off a line-out but both times Ealing’s defence held out and when the ball did come out Moseley number 8 Buster Lawrence knocked on with the line at his mercy.

Ealing’s first attack came 10 minutes in when Steve Pape took a good lineout take and set up Ed Siggery and Conor Carey to attack the hosts. Moments later though it was Moseley who profited from the slippery conditions as the ball went to ground.

The visitors were forced into an early change when wing Owen Bruynseels went down with an injury and was replaced by Sam Wardingley and soon after the hosts took the lead.

Their scrum-half Sam Brown attacked off the back of the scrum and while he was caught by Sean O’Connell, Hooley kicked to the corner and Simon Hunt raced through to touch down and open the lead.

They doubled their lead when they eventually managed to drive a player over from a maul with Matt Williams the scorer. Ealing’s forwards immediately took the game to their opponents though and from their platform Chesters slid into the corner to score after Ben Ward had nudged a kick into the corner.

Moseley wing Williams added his second soon after halftime, but after Moseley captain Mike Powell was sent to the sin-bin, Ealing’s forwards gained the upper hand and McLean was first to the ball after Ward’s chip was deflected and played havoc in the Moseley defence.

As the clock ticked down neither team was able to find a way through; that was until Moseley made their last opportunity count in emphatic fashion.

Ealing Trailfinders
Andrew Henderson, Owen Bruynseels, Ronnie McLean, Tom Bedford, Phil Chesters, Ben Ward, Morgan Thompson; Ryan Storer, Andrei Radoi, Conor Carey, Steve Pape, Adam Preocanin (captain), Matt Evans, Ed Siggery, Sean O’Connell
Reserves: Sam Wilkes, Steve Neville, Richard Palframan, Dan Collier, TJ Anderson, Stuart Commins, Sam Wardingley
Moseley
Tony Carter, Simon Hunt, Scott Armstrong, Greg King, Matt Williams, Will Hooley, Sam Brown; Tom Warren, Rhys Buckley, Ben Evans, Greg Charlton, Mike Powell (captain), Neil Mason, Ollie Robinson, Buster Lawrence
Reserves – Craig Voisey, Will Evans, Stefan Thorp, Chris Brightwell, Ryan Glynn, Will Owen, Ollie Thomas

Referee – Tom Foley