Author Archives: Paul Clarke

Will Magie has had to be patient as he waited for his Greene King IPA Championship debut, but once it came it was something of a baptism of fire.

The young fly-half who grew up in Ealing, came off the bench with just over 10 minutes remaining in the match away to league leaders London Welsh on Sunday and despite having international centres Sonny Parker and Tom May threatening to run over him, he acquitted himself well on a day he will never forget.

“When Billy (Robinson) came over and said ‘are you ready to go on?’ I became really nervous all of a sudden, but once I got across the line all the nerves went away and it was just another game of rugby,” he said.

“It was really fun and I really enjoyed it. It was a shame about the result, but personally it was a good occasion for me. It was a special day all round; travelling there and my parents and friends were in the crowd.”

By the time the 21-year-old came on Ealing were 28-0 down against the Exiles, but for much of the match they more than matched a team of players who are favourites for promotion.

In the second half they limited Welsh to a single try through May and Magie is well aware that it is only by playing those types of players that he and the team will achieve their ambitions.

“You want play against the best players and test yourself against the best and they are the best team in the league at the moment,” he said. “I thought we did ok against them, though there were areas where we can improve, but we’ve got to take that into next week and the week after and that should be the standard we set and then we build from there.

“I just tried to get involved; it is always hard coming off the bench, but I just tried to get hold of the ball and make a few tackles, make a few passes. I thought I did ok.

So far this season Ben Ward and Andy Hall have been the first-choice fly-halves, though Magie has been quick to pick their brains and put the lessons into practice for the development team.

“I’ve been watching Andy kick as that is part of my game that I really want to work on and he’s got a really good range and accuracy,” he said. “It is all about getting in and doing extra practice and Wardy has been really good letting me know what I should practice and what I should be doing.

“I’ve been trying to take my chance when it comes, I’ve played in a few development fixtures and then got the chance on Sunday and can’t wait for the chance of the next one.”

Ealing Trailfinders returned from their trip to London Welsh without a point, but having caused the Greene King Championship leaders a number of problems over the 80 minutes.

Ealing enjoyed a good opening spell and their best moment came from a lineout steal from Sam Wilkes at the tail. The hooker linked with Tom Bedford and allowed Andy Hall the time and space to clear. Andrew Henderson, Phil Chesters and Chris Kinloch chased well and when London Welsh infringed at the ruck, Hall had the chance to open the score but sent his penalty wide from a difficult angle and length.

After another good lineout London Welsh fly-half Gordon Ross came up offside to concede a penalty. Ealing opted for a scrum and Kinloch and Steve Pape took the ball into the Welsh 22 before a knock-on allowed the Exiles to clear.

For the next 10 minutes London Welsh were camped in the Ealing half, but rampant defence kept them out and the back of the scrum slick hands down the backline set Kinloch, Henderson and Chesters running to clear the danger.

Hall then had the chance for another shot at goal after the London Welsh pack was penalised for collapsing a maul, but again he was unable to find the target from a similar position to his first.

Soon after London Welsh found their stride and after a powerful surge from second-row Ian Nimmo, scrum-half Rob Lewis popped up on his shoulder to race in and open the scoring.

Moments after converting the first try former Scotland international Ross was then on hand to score the second.
Ealing responded by going on the offensive themselves, but as the half drew to a close the Exiles added a penalty try to leave them 21-0 ahead at half-time.

The match settled into a similar pattern in the second half, though once again Ealing dug deep in defence to hold out the hosts until the hour mark when Will Robinson’s cut-out pass set Tom May free down the right and the veteran centre raced away to score.

As the half wore on second row Gavin Curry made a welcome return from an abdominal injury when he came on just after the hour mark, while Will Magie came off the bench to make his Championship debut with 10 minutes remaining.

Ealing Trailfinders
Andrew Henderson, Sam Wardingley, Chris Kinloch, Tom Bedford, Phil Chesters, Andy Hall, Stuart Commins; Steve Neville, Sam Wilkes, Conor Carey, Adam Preocanin (captain), Steve Pape, Ed Siggery, Sam Hocking, Sean O’Connell
Reserves
Richard Townsend, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Jordan Saunders, Gavin Curry, Alex Bradley, Tom Parker, Will Magie
London Welsh
Alan Awcock, Seb Stegmann, Tom May (captain), Sonny Parker, Dante Mama, Gordon Ross, Rob Lewis; Billy Moss, Nathan Morris, James Tideswell, Ben West, Ian Nimmo, Mitch Lees, Mike Denbeem Ollie Stedman
Reserves
Kevin Davis, Alec Hepburn, Cai Griffiths, Ben Pienaar, Alex Davies, Ollie Frost, Will Robsinson

Referee – Craig Maxwell-Keys
Attendance – 1,004

New signing Sean O’Connell goes on the attack

New signing Sean O’Connell will go straight into the starting line-up for Ealing Trailfinders’ away fixture with London Welsh on Sunday.

O’Connell recently signed from London Irish and will pack down at Number 8 at the Kassam Stadium, with flankers Ed Siggery and Sam Hocking either side of him.

“I’ve settled in well and they’re a good group of guys and that makes a difference,” O’Connell said. “I’m living just down the road which is handy, so am looking forward to playing this weekend and getting involved.

“A lot of those guys will be ex-Premiership players, so it will be a benchmark to see where I am as a player and for the team to go out and learn.”

The 20-year-old played for Ealing’s junior sides before being picked up by the Irish Exiles, whom he represented at U19 and U20 level before getting a call from the Ireland U19 selectors.

He also spent two years at the Ulster Academy before returning to London Irish’s academy and from there he moved to Vallis Way.

“I was here from under-11s to under-16s, so it’s nice to be back,” he said. “I know a few guys; Camilo (Parilli Ocampo) played in my brother’s year and was coached by my Dad and I know Conor Carey from Ulster.”

Elsewhere in the pack Steve Neville comes into the front-row alongside Carey and hooker Sam Wilkes, while Adam Preocanin and Steve Pape start in the second row.

In the backs Andrew Henderson and Phil Chesters retain their places while there are recalls for Chris Kinloch, Tom Bedford, Sam Wardingley, Andy Hall and Stuart Commins.

Ealing Trailfinders v London Welsh, 17 November, 14.30 ko
15 Andrew Henderson
14 Sam Wardingley
13 Chris Kinloch
12 Tom Bedford
11 Phil Chesters
10 Andy Hall
9 Stuart Commins
1 Steve Neville
2 Sam Wilkes
3 Conor Carey
4 Adam Preocanin
5 Steve Pape
6 Ed Siggery
7 Sam Hocking
8 Sean O’Connell
Reserves
16 Richard Townsend
17 Camilo Parilli-Ocampo
18 Jordan Saunders
19 Gavin Curry
20 Alex Bradley
21Tom Parker
22 Will Magie

Karl Gibson is aiming to make it a memorable start to 2014 with a return to action for Ealing Trailfinders in February.

The Geordie hooker broke a bone in his foot in the build up to the Leinster A match in the British and Irish Cup, but after successfully undergoing surgery at Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon to pin the broken bone he is now well into his rehabilitation.

“At the minute they have put a pin in and wired it,” Gibson said. “For now it will be a month in the moon boot and then just before Christmas I will have another X-Ray to check the pin is in strong.

“Then in early January I will get the pins taken out and maybe at the beginning of February, if everything is ok, I should be good to go, though I will need the specialist to sign everything off for me. Fingers crossed, mid or end of February I should be back.”

The 26-year-old Gibson previously suffered two anterior cruciate ligament injuries that ruled him out of action, but it at least meant he knows how to handle his rehabilitation and not rush the process.

He has been a regular figure at Vallis Way for home matches, but has now been able to start weight-training and cycling sessions in the gym as he rebuilds his fitness.

“I had three weeks off completely and tonight’s my first session, doing some upper body weights and an hour on the bike, so long as I’m in the boot,” he said.

“We’ll see how it goes tonight and so long as I have the boot on and have no repercussions I’ll be good to go. I can crack on and do some upper body weights and cycling, but have to wait till the specialist gets back in touch before stepping it up.”

Gibson’s return will increase competition for the first-choice hooker role. He began the season as first choice before injury struck and since then the Sam Wilkes, Josh Elliott and Richard Townsend have battled over the number 2 jersey in his absence.

Last Friday he was among the crowd for the Friday Night Lights clash with Plymouth Albion and was delighted to see Elliott go over for the front-row unions first try of the season.

“I’m massively chuffed,” Gibson added. “I was back-row last year and moved to the front-row this year, so got quite close to Richie, Josh and Sam. It was great to see him get his debut for the first team and then to top it off with a try. It is always good to see a front-row score a try.”

Gippa is aiming to be back playing in February 2014

Ealing Trailfinders hooker Josh Elliott may not have been entirely clear where he was as he was being driven towards the Plymouth Albion line last Friday night, but by tucking into the rolling maul and scoring his first try for the club he gave Ealing’s fans something to cheer on a cold, damp night.

Elliott started and finished the move that ensured Ealing didn’t end the match without any points against the Devonians. First he hit jumper Adam Preocanin in the lineout and then like all good hookers bound himself onto the back of the maul and fell onto the ball once the pack had crossed the Albion whitewash.

“I didn’t really see where the line was, I just heard a load of the boys shouting,” he admitted. “I thought I would just make sure I fell on the ball to make sure it hit the deck and then I heard everyone cheering, so I was happy, but honestly I had no idea where the line was. I was lost in the middle of the maul.”

The Friday Nights Light fixture was another tough encounter against a side that is well-established in the Greene King IPA Championship and that features two players, in scrum-half Ruairi Cushion and Number 8 Rhys Oakley, who will play for the Barbarians against the Combined Services on Tuesday night.

Even so there were times in the match when Ealing’s attack had the side from the south-west rocking and only desperate defence from the visitors stopped the hosts getting on the scoresheet earlier in the evening.

“It was good to get some points, but we’ve got to be more clinical in the red zone,” Elliott added. “The boys know that in the first half with lineouts and scrums we need to be more clinical and smarter.

“It is really frustrating for the lads because we all put in a shift, but you’ve got to take it on the chin and move on and keep improving, so it was good that the lineout worked and it is something we could take into next week.”

The 22-year-old Elliott has been involved far more in the first team than he expected. He joined from Bath University in the summer, but was given his chance earlier than first thought after injury to some of his front-row brethren.

“At the beginning I wasn’t expecting to play much at all and while I don’t wish injuries on anyone, injuries allowed me to progress up the team,” he said.

“I’ve tried to take my opportunities when they’ve come and play as well as I can. While I know there are things I can improve I just want to do the best for the team and play as well as I can.”

Ealing Trailfinders welcome Tim Brockett back to the starting 15 for the match with Plymouth Albion at Vallis Way on Friday after he recovered from injury.

The prop forward has been out of action with a knee problem since the match against Cross Keys on 19 October which forced him to miss the fixtures against Bedford Blues and Moseley.

However, he has battled back to full fitness and Director of Rugby Mike Cudmore has picked him to complete a front-row with fellow prop Ryan Storer and hooker Sam Wilkes.

Further back in the pack Ed Siggery returns from suspension after he received two yellow cards against Cross Keys and the Welshman will pack down alongside TJ Anderson and former Albion Number 8 Sam Hocking, who scored nine tries in 18 appearances for the Devonians last season.

In the backs six of the seven who began the two most recent matches are in the starting side. The only change is the introduction of Phil Chesters on the left wing, with Billy Robinson switching to the opposite flank.

Ealing Trailfinders v Plymouth Albion, Friday 8 November, 19.45 ko
15 Andrew Henderson
14 Billy Robinson
13 Ronnie Mclean
12 Tom Wheatcroft
11 Philip Chesters
10 Ben Ward (Captain)
9 Morgan Thompson
1 Ryan Storer
2 Sam Wilkes
3 Tim Brockett
4 Adam Preocanin
5 Matt Evans
6 Ed Siggery
7 TJ Anderson
8 Sam Hocking
Reserves
16 Joshua Elliott
17 Steve Neville
18 Conor Carey
19 Steve Pape
20 Alex Bradley
21 Stuart Commins
22 Chris Kinloch

Sam Hocking will be out to remind Plymouth Albion of his try-scoring prowess