Author Archives: Paul Clarke

Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV battled treacherous weather conditions to narrowly beat Blaydon 12-11 at Vallis Way. The hard-fought victory sees league leaders Ealing Trailfinders extend their lead to 18 points at the top of National 1 with five games remaining in what could prove to be a landmark season for the club. At the start of the day it appeared that the inclement weather would get the better of the top-of-the-table clash, but both sides were determined to proceed with the fixture, which turned out to be an attritional game of rugby.

Both sides began the game tentatively, with Blaydon having the benefit of playing with a brisk breeze at their backs. A needless penalty for ruck infringement in Ealing Trailfinder’s 22 resulted in Blaydon fly-half Andrew Baggett opening the scoring after a couple of minutes played. Muddy grounding, horizontal sleet and freezing temperatures meant that handling errors and rising influence from referee John Meredith were common themes. The visitors edged the opening exchanges and gained territorial ascendency as the half wore on. Mr Meredith penalised Ealing Trailfinders for another misdemeanour at the ruck and Baggett duly obliged as his penalty kick increased Blaydon’s lead to 6-0. Ealing Trailfinders hit back instantly when a series of pressure-exerting drives from close-quarters enabled the home side to build momentum. After a succession of inch-gaining carries round the fringes, scrum-half Morgan Thompson instinctively spotted an unguarded gap behind the ruck and darted over for the first try of the day. Thomas Wheatcroft, returning from an elbow injury, added the extras after an earlier missed penalty to take Ealing Trailfinders into a 7-6 lead. Blaydon stormed back, using their powerful pack to maul their way within a metre of the Ealing Trailfinders try-line, before scrum-half Andrew Davies squeezed over to score. Baggett’s impressive kicking display continued as his conversion reclaimed Blaydon’s lead, which remained intact up to the interval.

It was clear from the start of the second half that Ealing Trailfinders were going to exploit the tricky conditions by making life extremely difficult for the Blaydon back three. Ealing Trailfinders fly-half Ben Ward repeatedly kicked up-and-unders to test the nerve and skill of the Blaydon back division. The tide was beginning to turn as Ealing Trailfinders were gradually building momentum and pressuring Blaydon in all facets of the game. However, the visitors stood up to the challenge and were determined in their effort to thwart any Ealing Trailfinders attacks. The introduction of Ealing Trailfinders substitutes provided added impetus as they went in search of the match-winning score. Ronald Mclean-Dents, a second-half replacement for Phil Chesters, proved to be the home side’s hero of the day. The outside centre showed his finishing ability by scoring the all-important try in the right-hand corner to take Ealing Trailfinders into the lead with a handful of minutes to play. In a nervous conclusion to the game, Baggett had the opportunity to win the game at the death but his penalty fell just short, enabling Ealing Trailfinders to come away with what could turn out to be a crucial victory in their quest for the title.

Ealing Trailfinders are on the road this week to Sedgley Park before returning home to Vallis Way where they will face Loughborough Students and Cinderford on the 6th April and 13th April respectively. To find out more please click here
 

Saturday 6th April 2013, 3PM KO, Pre Match Buffet Lunch

Match Sponsored by:

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Saturday 6th April is the first of two back to back home games at Vallis Way. The first up are new comers to our ground, Loughborough Students. Despite their slow start to the season they have shown that they are more than capable of competing at this level. Last Saturday they managed to overcome Rosslyn Park at home to secure a good win with an organised defence and tremendous flair in attack. Put this against our own expansive attack that has seen us score 821 points this season so far and we are set for a fantastically entertaining game of National League 1 rugby, one not to miss!

To really start the game day we will be having one of our renowned buffet lunches that offers fantastic food and a great social gathering at a very reasonable price. This is a great opportunity for all to enjoy what will be a fantastic lunch followed by an entertaining game of rugby.

Lunch will be a 13:00 arrival for a 13:30 sit down and all bookings must be made by Wednesday 3rd April 2013 at 12:00.

Prices

Members: £20 including entrance
Non Members: £30 including entrance

Please note that entrance is paid on the gate upon arrival and lunch payments will be taken at the lunch.
To book on the buffet lunch please contact Craig Bowley ccdo@ealingrugby.co.uk or on 07887743640. If you would like to book for a group then please note that tables have a comfortable capacity of 10. If you book a table of 10 then all on the table will receive members rates.

Ealing Trailfinders lost for only the third time this season as Fylde produced an impressive performance to run out 22-15 winners at the Woodlands. ETRC’s supreme run of form came to an end as they suffered their first defeat in 12 games, the last loss dating back to when Blaydon, who make the journey to Vallis Way this weekend, came out on top last November.

Ealing Trailfinders will ponder how they were unable to cross the whitewash in the opening stages as they dominated the territorial and possession statistics. With the Ealing Trailfinders scrum in total control, forcing numerous penalties that led to the sin-binning of scrum-half Martin Wallwork, indecision allowed Fylde to reclaim possession. The hosts showed a ruthlessness that had eluded Ealing Trailfinders earlier and took a surprise lead when Gareth Rawlings crossed from a driving maul in the 17th minute. Fylde extended their lead just minutes later when Stephen Briers burst through Ealing Trailfinders midfield defence after a sequence of sublime handling skills from the Fylde backline. Chris Johnson’s conversion took Fylde into a commanding 12-0 lead with a quarter of the game played.

Ealing Trailfinders struck back immediately when fly-half Ben Ward intercepted a risky pass deep in Fylde territory to race in and score under the posts. Ward converted his own try before Ealing Trailfinders seized the initiative to draw the scores level. A brilliant 40-metre outside break from Andrew Henderson took the league leaders within striking distance before the full-back’s deft grubber kick, as the cover defence rushed across, was superbly picked up by speedster Phil Chesters to score. Ward’s missed conversion meant the score remained 12-12 going into half-time. After the interval, Ealing Trailfinders continued pressure paid off as they took the lead for the first time in the game thanks to a Ward penalty. As was the nature of this see-saw encounter, a Johnson penalty once gain levelled the score as both sides attempted to gain the upper hand in this absorbing battle. A loose pass in Ealing Trailfinders midfield was gratefully picked up by centre Michael Waywell, whose jinking run gathered momentum for the hosts before the ball was recycled to Oliver Brennand, who scored a converted try. Despite 20 minutes of the game remaining, Ealing Trailfinders were unable to trouble the scorers again. Wave after wave of Ealing Trailfinders attack was met with resolute defence as handling errors and repeated infringements penalised by referee Dean Richards stifled the league leaders’ hopes of staging a heroic comeback.

Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV return home to Vallis Way this Saturday where they are set to host second placed Blaydon. The game this weekend is a must-see top of the table clash. To find out more please click here.

Ealing Trailfinders had to come from behind to clinch a dramatic victory over Old Albanian RFC at Woollhams on Saturday. Ealing Trailfinders trailed 29-27 with 5 minutes remaining before Tom Parker’s unconverted try enabled the league leaders to continue their devastating form in 2013.

The home side took the lead when number 8 Matt Chambers scored against the run of play. A turnover forced Ealing Trailfinders onto the back foot before Chambers’ mazy run exposed the disorganised defensive line. OA’s full-back Richard Gregg converted the easy penalty. Ealing Trailfinders responded in typical fashion. A series of direct forward carriers allowed the backline to show off their silky handling skills and speed to swing the ball to Owen Bruynseels, who finished purposefully in the far right-hand corner. Playing into a strong breeze, Ealing Trailfinders were forced to play from deep as the game restarted. With momentum building, a loose pass was intercepted by Ollie Marchon, who accelerated untouched to the try-line to extend OAs’ lead to 14-5. The Ealing Trailfinders scrum was proving to be their most potent weapon as they gallantly attempted to reduce OAs’ lead. Ealing Trailfinders scored their second try when scrum-half Parker darted off the back of a dominant scrum on the hosts’ try line. Thomas Wheatcroft was unable to add the extras as OAs maintained their lead at 14-10. A fine Phil Chesters break down the touchline allowed Ealing Trailfinders to build momentum, and after the ball was recycled Tim Brockett went over from close range for the visitors to take the lead. The misfiring Wheatcroft kicked wide again as Ealing Trailfinders led by the solitary point. The visitors were unable to hold onto their lead as a Gregg penalty sent OAs into the break 17-15 up.

After the interval, poor defending saw OAs extend their lead when scrum-half Stefan Liebenberg’s try from a quick penalty tap was converted by Gregg. Ealing Trailfinders showed their resilient qualities when Chesters scored from a well-worked first-phase move before Bruynseels raced over for his second score of the game to take the score to 27-24 in the visitors’ favour. Marchon crossed for his second try of the game when he showed blistering pace after collecting a long-range clearance kick to restore OAs’ lead at 29-27. Ealing Trailfinders managed to fight off an unrelenting passage of OAs attack and scored the winning try courtesy of a superb counter-attacking move. An outstanding break from Andrew Henderson took the ball into the Albanians 22 before Bruynseels’ one-handed off-load was gathered by Parker, who raced over to score the crucial match-winning try. Ealing Trailfinders were forced to defend with sheer determination as the final four minutes saw a flurry of pulsating multi-phase attacks from the home side. Ealing Trailfinders held on to secure a hard-fought and entertaining 32-29 victory.

Ealing Trailfinders are back on the road this week as they travel to Fylde to play their rescheduled fixture. They return to Vallis Way on the 23rd March to face second place Blaydon in a top of the table clash, KO 2PM. To find out more about this game please click here
 

Ealing Trailfinders continued their superb run of form with a comprehensive bonus-point victory over Wharfedale at Vallis Way.
The National 1 league leaders produced a ruthless second-half performance, making up for a sluggish first period as the hosts ultimately cruised to a 41-13 victory.

Ealing Trailfinders’ early dominance was rewarded when Ronald Mclean-Dents was the grateful beneficiary of some fine attacking play between Andrew Henderson and Phil Chesters, resulting in the centre crossing for the first try in the eighth minute. Wharfedale opened their account when fly-half Thomas Barrett converted a penalty after Ealing Trailfinder’s Mat Evans was deemed to have entered the ruck from the side. Ealing Trailfinders hit back immediately courtesy of a stunning individual try scored by Chesters. The winger collected the ball just past the half-way line before brushing aside several defenders as he raced to the try line to send Ealing Trailfinders into a 10-3 lead. Ealing Trailfinders looked bright in their attacking endeavour but were met by stubborn Wharfedale defence and were their own worst enemies as handling errors were proving a common theme. Barrett and Thomas Wheatcroft traded a penalty apiece before Tim Brockett was sent to the sin-bin for slowing the ball down illegally as Ealing Trailfinders took a 13-6 lead into half-time.

Ealing Trailfinders began the second half with renewed vigour and their scrum was an indicator of how the team were functioning. The scrum had been inconsistent and had conceded penalties in the first 40 minutes. However, the opening periods of the second half saw the scrum dominance that has been associated with the Ealing Trailfinders pack in recent weeks. Wheatcroft, uncharacteristically wayward from the kicking tee, missed his fourth shot at goal before redeeming himself with an excellent try, beating two defenders and showing a turn of speed to dot down for the home side. Ben Ward’s successful conversion extended Ealing Trailfinders lead to 20-6. Ealing Trailfinders’ relentless attacking threats began to take their toll on a tiring Wharfedale outfit as tries in quick succession from Steve Pape and Ward saw Ealing Trailfinders collect the bonus point and race into a 34-6 lead. With Wharfedale hooker Steve Larkin in the sin-bin, Pape burst through the visitors’ defence to score his second converted try of the game, extending Ealing Trailfinders lead to 41-6 with six minutes remaining. Barrett’s consolation try was the last action of the game as Ealing Trailfinders secured their sixth victory in a row.

Ealing Trailfinders travel to Old Albanians on Saturday determined to avenge their 31-25 defeat in November. The team returns to Vallis Way on the 23rd March where they host Blaydon who are currently placed second in National League 1, this is a 2pm KO. To find out more click here

Ealing Trailfinders second row Gavin Curry and front row Tim Brockett give insight to their lives with 10 questions you will not want to miss. 

Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV left it to the final play of the game to claim a pulsating 36-33 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Esher. Owen Bruynseels squeezed over in the right hand corner in the 81st minute to set off a chorus of celebrations from the Ealing Trailfinders players, as the victory all but signals the end of any promotion hopes for last year’s relegated Championship side.

Despite losing captain Ian Kench to a serious knee injury in the 2nd minute, Esher began the game with gusto. Their ability to recycle quick ball and get their forwards thundering over the gain-line had the Ealing Trailfinders side defending for large periods of the opening quarter. Ealing Trailfinders found themselves 13-3 behind after Esher fly-half Luke Daniels kicked two penalties to the one by Thomas Wheatcroft before Andy Wright scored following good build-up play between forwards and backs. Ealing Trailfinders looked dangerous on the counter-attack, and when Phil Chesters latched onto a neat grubber kick from Wheatcroft before bursting through a tackle to sprint for his first try of the game, Ealing Trailfinders had reduced the deficit to 13-10 going into half-time.

After the interval, Ealing Trailfinders raced into the lead for the first time thanks to Chesters’ opportunistic instinct. As Esher pressed the visitors’ try-line, the electric winger snapped up a loose pass to sprint the length of the field and score a converted try. Esher fashioned an immediate response as a wayward Ealing Trailfinders pass was gathered by Spencer Sutherland who, like his opposite winger minutes before, sprinted untouched to the try-line. Daniels’ successful conversion took Esher into a 20-17 lead as the game was beginning to turn into a humdinger of a derby. Ealing Trailfinders demonstrated their ruthlessness with two tries in the space of three minutes giving them the momentum in this absorbing encounter. The first try was the result of a powerful forward drive which saw Anders Nilsson claim the score. The second try saw Chesters secure his well-deserved hat-trick and provided Ealing Trailfinders with the bonus-point score. The visitors looked in control as they held a 29-20 lead and seemed on the cusp of running away with the game. However, ill-discipline threatened to ruin the hard work that had been put in by the visitors. Daniels kicked a pair of penalties to close the gap to within three points before Ealing Trailfinders were reduced to 13 men as Peter Hodgkinson was sin-binned for foul play, followed seconds later by Sam Shires who was yellow-carded for repeated offences. Ealing Trailfinders combined a patient strategy with courageous defence as they endeavoured to run the clock down with their England Counties representatives redundant in the bin. Esher proved to be too good a side not to capitalise on the numerical advantage as they reclaimed the lead through a well-worked try finished by Andy Garner. With less than four minutes remaining in the game it looked like Ealing Trailfinders were on their way to suffering their first defeat since losing to Blaydon last November. Ealing Trailfinders persevered and demonstrated their title credentials by showing class and maturity to snatch victory. An Ealing Trailfinders lineout drive looked destined to produce a try before it was suspiciously pulled down just metres from the Esher try-line. The Ealing Trailfinders players kept their cool and a succession of pick and goes gave them the necessary impetus before slick handling through the backs to Bruynseels, who finished brilliantly in the corner. Wheatcroft’s touch-line conversion rubbed further salt into Esher wounds and signalled the end to a magnificent National 1 derby game. 

Ealing Trailfinders representatives Peter Hodgkinsons and Sam Shires are part of the England Counties Squad that will be taking on France Federale this Friday at Vallis Way in Ealing, the home of Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. Kickoff is 7pm and is set to be a great opener to a weekend of International rugby.

Ealing Trailfinders centre Rory Damant gives insight to his time at Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club through the 10 question interview.