Author Archives: Paul Clarke

Ironman UK run for Charity

Dear All

Sorry for the email… but……………..

On Sunday 1st August, I will be heading up to Bolton, to take part in the annual Ironman UK. A triathlon, comprising a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride, all to get to a 42.2km run!

Sounds mad?

Well to make it all worthwhile, I will be hoping to raise money for two charities:

Help for Heroes was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry in October 2007 out of a desire to help the wounded Servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. The message of the charity is simple: We are strictly non political and non critical; we simply want to help. We believe that anyone who volunteers to serve in time of war, knowing that they may risk all, is a hero. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and some of them are living with the consequences of their service for life. We may not be able to prevent our soldiers from being wounded, but together we can help them get better.

Marie Curie Nurses provide free nursing care to cancer patients and those with other terminal illnesses in their own homes. 

I would really appreciate it if you were able to help me raise some money to help these marvellous charities, no matter how small, every penny will help go towards making someone’s life better.

Please go this website to donate online: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidSteene1

Thanks for your help

Dave Steene
Chairman of the Senior Section
Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club

New Referee Courses – ELRA

The next 2010/2011 ELRA (Entry Level Referees Award) course at Ealing with Ed Turnill (our RFU Referee Development Officer) will take place on the following dates:

Monday 4 Oct (evening)

Monday  11 Oct (evening)

Monday  18 Oct (evening)

Sunday 14 Nov (practical session during minis/youth)

If you are a budding referee and have not yet taken the ELRA course please contact Man-Chung Tsung to confirm your place. We really would encourage you to attend.

Mrs Win Williams RIP

It is with regret that I have to inform you of the passing of Mrs Winnie Williams.

Win was an ever present at the club stretching back over many years, a loyal and ardent supporter of our Club, this came with the territory so to speak, as she was married to a past 1st XV Captain and Past President of the Club – G.J. ‘Willie’ Williams!
 
Our Club meant a great deal to Win and still does of course to Willie so it is only right and proper that we pay our respects to Win.  She will be laid to rest on Friday 11th June at the Breakspear Cremetorium (East Chapel) in Ruislip at 11am.  The funeral cortege will leave from 4 The Mead, Ealing, W13 8AZ at 10.20am.
 
Win loved flowers and Willie has asked that if you wish to express your sympathy in that way then flowers can be sent to the Co-operative Funeralcare, 107 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, W5 1RH to arrive by 9am on 11th June.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with Willie and his family at this difficult time,
 
Les O’Gorman
Hon Secretary

REPORT: Ealing Exiles 5 – 50 Ealing Evergreens

On Friday 21st May Ealing Exiles and Ealing Evergreens competed for the in the Damian Bugeja Memorial Trophy. The result was a great win for the Evergreens, and they probably gave their best performance of the season, although it is a big help to have a large squad. Both teams displayed some great skills on the pitch, furious tackling (ask Declan), and open rugby. Everybody enjoyed the late afternoon, as so many people turned up, it was one of the largest crowds of the season.

The Cup will be engraved and then displayed at the club, ready for the re-match next season.

See more photos here, courtesy of Patsy and Gerri.

REPORT: Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV 76 – 6 Westcombe Park

Ealing Trailfinders produced a stunning second half display that blew Westcombe Park apart, and with it achieved 1014 league points for the first time in the club’s history. 

Ealing’s season has seen some wonderful rugby played from a young team that many feel can grow and produce that something extra that would see them gain promotion next season to National 1.

Director of rugby Mike Cudmore said, "We wanted to put on a performance that celebrated our season.  We did this and looking back at the season we have achieved a lot.  We were obviously disappointed to miss out on the playoff place but the squad has grown and it puts us in a strong position in the future"

Westcombe Park returned to Vallis Way for their rearranged N2S fixture after they deemed the pitch unplayable in March. How they wished the going was less firm as it took Ealing just three minutes to open the scoring, as the leagues top try scorer Phil Chesters crossed for the first of the home sides 11 tries. Combe started brightly but it was to be a long afternoon for the Goddington Dene side, as they continually turned over possession, and Ealing were in no mood to spurn up good ball. Jay King’s side looked to move the ball at every opportunity.

A turnover on halfway,  and the ball was in fly half Ben Ward’s hands, and his trademark cross field kick found Chesters, he plucked the ball out of the air  and went over from 35m. Scrum half Morgan Thompson continued his impressive form with the boot and added the conversion from out wide.

Blair Morris, Ealing’s hard nosed blindside flanker was next on the score sheet, receiving a pop pass from skipper Jay King who had taken a quick penalty,  just outside the Combe 22m line he burst through 2 tackles to score, Thompson again adding the conversion.

Number eight  Guthrie Hall was to take further advantage of Westcombe’s indiscretions. Again taking advantage of Combe not moving back at a penalty, he step his way over for the first of his brace on 20 minutes. Morgan Thompson adding the twp points too stretch Ealing’s advantage to 21-0 on 20 minutes. Westcombe Park came back into the game on 24 minutes when stand off Dan Harris kicked the first of his two penalties of the day .

Young centre Markus Burcham made a strong break through the Combe midfield and his was hooker Rob Buchanan who was on hand to finish the score off, and with it the four try bonus point, just before half time. Thompson again added the extra points. From the kick off Ealing conceded a penalty that Harris converted to take the score at half time to 28-6 to the home side.

The second half continued in the same vein, as tight head prop Dinos Alexopoulos, found himself receing the ball on the wing , beating his opposite man to score in the 41 minute. Thompson’s form continuing as he struck the conversion from the wide angle.

Skipper Jay King capped a man of the match performance, with a well deserved try following a powerful run through the heart pf the Coombe defence. This was followed by replacement wing Owen Bruynseels turned on the afterburners after being fed by the industrious Joe Price.

Blair Morris and Guthrie Hall both claimed their second tries of  the day, and Rob Buchanan and Owen Bruynseels rounded off a great season for the Vallis Way team.

John O’Sullivan from Allied Irish Bank selected skipper Jay King as his man of the match after a typical workman like display.

Jay said after the game, "We have a roller coaster ride of a season. It started with a serious amount of uncertainty, with whole sale changes being made to the squad. This gave players who had may be waiting in the shadows some what the previous season an opportunity to establish themselves as 1st XV starters. With a couple of excellent additions to the squad we started as a bit of an unknown quantity.

The spirit of the squad evolved quickly. I can honestly say that this has been one the most enjoyable seasons I have ever played. From the on set of the season we put ourselves in the mix for promotion. On route we picked up some notable wins, namely picking up our first ever win away at Dings, again putting 50 points on Lydney away from home, is something not many teams will do.

Unfortunately despite finishing on level points with Rosslyn Park it wasn’t quite enough to gain the playoff spot. Despite not getting promoted, our season can be deemed nothing other than a success. We picked up league points in every single match this season and that is a great feat in itself.

There was some extremely sad news at end of the season with the passing on of our head coach Kieran Power’s mother, Ann Power. She was heavily invovled in the club as one of our sponsors and her and her husband Jim rarely missed a game. I think it would be a fitting tribute to dedicate this season to Ann’s memory.

Roll on 2010/2011 season. "

So the season finishes at Vallis Way. Over 1000 points scored and some wonderful rugby witnessed both at home and away. The young  team have come a long way, and their achievements show the National league rugby can be entertaining and well worth spending your Saturday at Vallis Way!

Ealing Trailfinders team

15 – Hodgkinson ,14 – Briggs, 13 – Burcham , 12 – Price ,11 – Chesters, 10 – Ward, 9 – Thompson, 8 – Hall, 7 – King (C), 6 – Morris, 5 – Davies, 4 – Gregory,  3 – Alexopoulos, 2 – Buchnan, 1 – Brown

16 – Kuwana, 17 – Neville 18 – Winterbottom, 19 – Essien, 20 – Bruynseels