Author Archives: Paul Clarke

Ealing Trailfinders Number 8 Sam Hocking wants him and his teammates to ensure that from now on their first 20 minutes match their last.

Hocking was one of Ealing’ try-scorers against Cross Keys in the British and Irish Cup, along with Andrew Henderson and Billy Robinson, but by then the team were desperately playing catch up in a frantic last quarter that left them one try short of four-try and losing bonus points.

“I think to be perfectly honest that first 20 minutes killed us,” Hocking said. “We spoke about it at halftime and I think we gave away something like nine penalties in the first 20 minutes and probably three tries as well and we didn’t recover from that really.

“That first 10-15 minutes, from now on we really need to switch on because we’re shooting ourselves in the foot at the minute.”

Hocking has firmly established himself in the squad at Vallis way since he joined Trailfinders from Plymouth Albion over the summer. He has played all three positions across the back-row, but it is only in the last two weeks that he has been able to start in his favoured position of Number 8.

His try was his first since moving to west London, but he was a regular on the scoresheet during his time at Brickfields and he ended last season as Albion’s leading scorer with nine tries from 18 starts.

“I’m happier with the fact that I played another 80 minutes,” he said. “It is always hard; you go through pre-season and you don’t normally get that match fitness until you have a couple of matches under your belt taking hits.

“We were over the far side of the pitch,” he said. “Ed (Siggery) and Jack (Pattinson) did really well with the first carry to break through and from that we got quick ball and I just ran a little ball off Wardy (Ben Ward) and he gave it to me and there were only five metres to go.”

Hocking’s try against Cross Keys was his first for the club

Ealing Trailfinders rallied in the second half and pushed visitors Cross Keys hard for the last 20 minutes of their second British and Irish Cup match as they chased a losing bonus point.

Jack Pattinson was named STORM Watches man of the match, while there was also a welcome return from injury for winger Owen Bruynseels, who played 50 minutes.

After an opening period in which Keys ran in three tries from Dan Hodge, Tom Lampard and Ieuan Jones, Ealing hit back before half-time with a try through Andrew Henderson.

The pack picked and drove at the Keys defence for a number of phases and when captain for the day Ben Ward moved the ball wide Ronnie McLean broke the Welsh defence and popped a pass up to Henderson for the fullback to scoot over the line.

After half-time both teams pushed each other hard as they sought to make the initial breakthrough in the second period. Eventually it was the visitors who did so when Lampard went over for his second.

With a number of substitutions on both sides Ealing began to take the match to Cross Keys and Henderson, wing Billy Robinson and substitute Phil Chesters all managed to put their defence under pressure with counter-attacks.

Finally it was Robinson who made the breakthrough. After a counter-attack down Chesters’ wing, Jack Pattinson and Ed Siggery punched holes in the Keys’ defence and Ward popped a pass into Robinson’s hand and the wing raced away to dive over in the corner.

Soon after Sam Hocking closed the deficit to nine points and gave the team a sniff of a bonus point. Again the attack started down the left and when the ball moved right Number 8 Hocking popped up on Ward’s shoulder to complete the move.

With the chance of a bonus point Ealing continued to throw themselves at the Cross Keys’ line, but were unable to find a way through. In the end a highly relieved Cross Keys side were happy to kick the ball to touch as they made it two wins from their opening two matches in the competition.

Ealing Trailfinders
Andrew Henderson; Owen Bruynseels, Ronnie Mclean, Tom Wheatcroft, Billy Robinson; Ben Ward, Stuart Commins; Ryan Storer, Sam Wilkes, Tim Brockett; Steve Pape, Ed Siggery; Anders Nilsson, Jack Pattinson, Sam Hocking
Reserves
Jordan Saunders, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Conor Carey, Joe McVey; Morgan Thompson, Chris Kinloch, Phil Chesters
Cross Keys
Rhys Jones; Luke Williams, Tyler Morgan, Leon Andrews (c), James Cordy-Redden; Steffan Jones, Rhys Dyer; Aaron Coundley, Gerwyn Price, Nathan Buck; Danny Hodge, Tom Lampard; Ieuan Jones, Scott Matthews, Adam Powell
Reserves
Darren Hughes, Anthony Lott, Anthony Cornock, Ollie Hodge, Nathan Wiliams, Nathan Trowbridge, Ryan James

Referee – Sean Gallagher
Attendance – 391

Owen Bruynseels will make his long-awaited first start of the season in the home British and Irish Cup match against Cross Keys on Saturday.

Bruynseels has been with the club since 2003 and was a fixture in the team that won promotions from National 2 South and then National 1. However, he injured a groin in the final pre-season match against Old Albanian, a match in which he also scored a try, and has been battling back to fitness since then.

“It is a big boost for everyone to have Owen back in the team,” Director of Rugby Mike Cudmore said. “He has set an example to everyone with the way he has applied himself to his recovery and rehabilitation and we hope he can pick up where he left off with his try-scoring.”

Bruynseels will complete a back-three alongside fullback Andrew Henderson and fellow wing Billy Robinson.

Fly-half Ben Ward returns to the side and will captain the side, while in the pack Sam Hocking continues at Number 8, in a back-row trio that features Jack Pattinson and Anders Nilsson on the flanks.

Ealing Trailfinders v Cross Keys, Saturday 19 October, 2013, 15.00 kickoff
15 Andrew Henderson
14 Owen Bruynseels
13 Ronnie Mclean
12 Tom Wheatcroft
11 Billy Robinson
10 Ben Ward
9 Stuart Commins
1 Ryan Storer
2 Sam Wilkes
3 Tim Brockett
4 Steve Pape
5 Ed Siggery
6 Anders Nilsson
7 Jack Pattinson
8 Sam Hocking
Reserves
16 Jordan Saunders
17 Camilo Parilli-Ocampo
18 Conor Carey
19 Joe McVey
20 Morgan Thompson
21 Chris Kinloch
22 Phil Chesters

Ed Siggery has little doubt what he and his Ealing Trailfinders teammates can expect when Cross Keys come to Vallis Way for the British and Irish Cup match having played them numerous times in the past.

The flanker played against Cross Keys for Llandovery and Pontypridd during his time in the Welsh Premiership and he is expecting a bruising affair on Saturday.

“I played about three seasons against them in the Welsh Prem, I played them every year for Pontypridd and when I first started Llandovery,” he said.

“They have a reputation for being quite physical upfront and they try to bully teams with their forwards. They are not a bad team and are usually in the top four of the Welsh Premiership, so they should be a good outfit.”

The Carmarthen-born Siggery moved to W13 over the close season having previously been on the books at London Irish and London Welsh and his physicality on the blindside flank has meant that he has quickly become an important member of the first team squad.

He made history by scoring the first Greene King IPA Championship try at Vallis Way against Cornish Pirates and having only started on the bench for the previous match against Leinster ‘A’ in Dublin, he is ready to return to the starting side against his fellow Welsh.

“Obviously I have the hunger,” Siggery said. “I understand it is the British and Irish Cup so we’re still trying out our players, but I want to be starting week in week out and play all the big games and be impressing.

“It is always great to score a try; it was only a metre, but a brilliant moment to score that try. I tried to get the power and get that extra half a yard and get over the line.”

The trip to Dublin was another tough affair for Trailfinders, though captain for the day TJ Anderson gave the travelling support something to cheer when he capped off a fine move with a try near the end.

While results haven’t yet gone Ealing’s way the 22-year-old Siggery is still enjoying his time in west London and feels that with the backing of the team’s vocal and loyal fans that they will soon have something to cheer.

“It is a good set up and a great bunch of boys and the coaching is good,” he said. “It is one of the best set ups I’ve been in.

“We are still getting used to the league, it is a big step up, but we’ll keep building and the victories will come and hopefully will start at the weekend.”

Ed has quickly settled into life at Vallis Way

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce that STORM Watches will be the official sponsor of the club’s Man of the Match Award for home matches in the Greene King IPA Championship and British and Irish Cup.

Club captain Adam Preocanin was the first recipient of a STORM Watch following his barnstorming display in the first home match of the Championship season against Cornish Pirates.

“We are delighted to link up and sponsor Ealing Trailfinders’ Man of the Match award and as one of the rising sides in London rugby we hope our sponsorship can help the team to consolidate their position in the Championship and then enjoy further success,” Lisa Dack, brand manager for STORM Watches said.

Captain Adam Preocanin was the first winner of the season

“We are proud and excited to be driving our brand forward by sponsoring Ealing Trailfinders and are looking forward to the exposure for our watches in the British sport sector.”

Fly-half Andy Hall and centre Chris Kinloch were on hand to show STORM around the facilities at Vallis Way and try out two of the models, before reluctantly handing them back.

“It is great that a company such as Storm recognises the hard work and progress we have made here at Ealing Trailfinders,” sponsorship manager Sue Chandler said. “The watches are elegant and well-crafted and will be a fitting reward to our club’s man of the match.”

Chris Kinloch (left) and Andy Hall show off two of the STORM Watches

A young Ealing Trailfinders side fought valiantly before losing their British and Irish Cup debut away to holders Leinster A at Donnybrook in Dublin.

Captain for the day TJ Anderson scored Trailfinders’ only try of the match in the second half, while Andy Hall kicked a first half penalty.

Ealing were up against a side that is expected to be in the running lift the trophy later in the season and whose coach Girvan Dempsey won 82 caps for Ireland.

Leinster centre Tom Farrell started the scoring with a try after six minutes and Sam Coghlan Murray added a second soon after, which were both converted by fly-half Cathal Marsh.

Ealing hit back with a penalty from Hall which helped Trailfinders to settle into proceedings, and as the first half progressed they started to pose plenty of problems for the Leinster ‘A’ rearguard, but were unable to find a way through so went in at the break 21-3 down.

Number 8 Leo Auva’a and second row Tadhg Beirne added further Leinster A tries in the second half before Marsh added a try to go alongside his conversions.

Eventually Anderson gave the travelling and vociferous Ealing fans something cheer when he capped off a well-worked move to score.

John Cooney added a further Leinster score before the end, but the team emerged with a lot of credit from a difficult place to visit and on a day in which a number of younger players were involved with the first team for the first time.

Ealing Trailfinders
Andrew Henderson; Sam Wardingley, Tom Bedford, Tom Wheatcroft, Phil Chesters; Andy Hall, Stuart Commins; Steve Neville, Sam Wilkes, Tim Brockett; Steve Pape, Mat Evans; Thomas Anderson (capt), Alex Bradley, Sam Hocking.
Replacements: Josh Elliott, Camillo Parilli-Ocampo, Jordan Saunders, Joe McVey, Ed Siggery, Morgan Thompson, Billy Robinson.
Leinster A
Darren Hudson; Sam Coghlan Murray, Tom Farrell, Tom Daly, Darragh Fanning; Cathal Marsh, John Cooney; Jack O’Connell, James Tracy, Royce Burke Flynn, Tadhg Beirne, Ben Marshall, Dan Leavy, Conor Gilsenan (captain), Leo Auva’a.
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Martin Kelly, James Tracy, Ross Molony, Gavin Thornbury, Luke McGrath, Andrew Boyle, Steve Crosbie

Thomas ‘TJ’ Anderson’ will captain Ealing Trailfinders for the first time, in their British and Irish Cup debut away to Leinster A on Saturday.

Ealing take on the cup holders at Dublin’s Donnybrook at 14.30, but with club captain Adam Preocanin given the week off to recuperate after four hard weeks in the Greene King IPA Championship Ulsterman Anderson has been given the armband.

“I am honoured to be captaining Ealing for the first time this weekend,” he said. “Having played against Leinster at various levels I know what a challenge this side will be for us and that we as a team need to focus on putting in a strong performance on Saturday.

“Leinster teams I’ve played against in the past have always been very skilful and dynamic, with extremely secure defence. We will need to take our opportunities in this game and hopefully this will enable us to come out on top.”

Anderson will start the match at blindside flanker with Alex Bradley on the openside and Sam Hocking at Number 8. In the front row meanwhile prop Steve Neville and hooker Sam Wilkes are given their first starts of the season.

Andy Hall continues at fly-half and forms a half-back duo with the returning Stuart Commins, while Andrew Henderson shows his versatility by running out at fullback; his third position of the season so far having already played at centre and wing.

Ealing Trailfinders v Leinster A, Donnybrook, Dublin, Saturday 12 October, 14.00
15 Andrew Henderson
14 Sam Wardingley
13 Tom Bedford
12 Tom Wheatcroft
11 Phil Chesters
10 Andy Hall
9 Stuart Commins
1 Steve Neville
2 Sam Wilkes
3 Tim Brockett
4 Steve Pape
5 Mat Evans
6 Thomas Anderson
7 Alex Bradley
8 Sam Hocking
Reserves
16 Josh Elliott
17 Camilo Parilli-Ocampo
18 Jordan Saunders
19 Joe McVey
20 Ed Siggery
21 Morgan Thompson
22 Billy Robinson