Author Archives: Paul Clarke

Ealing Trailfinders produced a polished seven try performance to beat Lydney at  Regentsholm on Saturday. Despite this result the much sought after play off spot slipped from their hands as Rosslyn Park overcame Canterbury to take second position.

As Ealing’s fly half Ben Ward said,  "whatever Rosslyn Park did they would continue to play their own brand of attacking entertaining rugby. "We knewwe could have an effect on the outcome of our game and could not effect what Rosslyn Park did. We had really put an emphasis on playing our style of rugby and imposing ourselves on the game. It can be easy at this stage of the season to relax a little bit but we turned up with the right attitude and were able to put some good rugby together testing Lydney in the tight with our power runners and also out wide. After what happened at Lydney last season we wanted to show how far we have come as a side and I think we did that."

This attitude was reflected from the first whistle. Lydney did take the game to their West London opponents, but it was Ealing’s supporters player of the season Pete Hodgkinson who opened the scoring on 10 minutes stepped his way through the Lydney defence to score out wide. From the kick off, Lydney, kicked away possession and two minutes later Ealing’s lively hooker Jon Moyce powered his way through for the days second try. Scrum half Morgan Thompson kicked the extra 2 pints.

Ealing were at this stage moving the ball with great speed and skill, they looked to run the ball at every opportunity, and on twenty minutes ,wing Owen Bruynseels crossed the line for his 16th try of the season. Thompson added the conversion.

Lydney’s own danger man, wing Charlie Vine scored a fine individual try on 22 minutes to claw five points back for the hosts. Lydney’s fly half Martin Knight kicked a penalty on 40 minutes to take the score to 8-19 at half time.

Ealing hit the ground running in the second half. Their strong defence turned the ball over in midfield and on 42 minutes , Blaire Morris went over, Thompson added the extras. The second half was one way traffic, Lydney having no answer to their opponents fitness and speed of thought. Tries came at regular intervals. Second row Ryan Gregory crossed on 53 minutes, followed by the leagues top try scorer, Phil Chesters on 60 minutes for his 27th of the season.

Two tries came in quick succession, as firstly wing Richard Briggs scored followed by number 8 Guthrie Hall who capped an impressive display and bought up the half century of points.

Skipper Jay King said after the game, "It was a great win down at Lydney, last year we went down there and suffered a defeat with similar circumstances surrounding the match. We controlled possession from the start, and there was great linking between the backs and the forwards. We defended very well. It was great away win. Not many teams will go down to Lydney and score 50 points. "

Ealing Director of Rugby , Mike Cudmore was happy with the performance, he said,  "We knew what we needed to achieve and that was a five point win.  We played well and delivered a very good away performance.  There were some very good individual performances and we need to build on this and take it into our last game at home this week against Westcombe Park"  

This weekend, Ealing return to Vallis Way, for their rearranged final National 2 South league match against Westcombe Park. Kick off is 3pm. Hooker Jon Moyce, commented about the last game of the season , he said "Westcombe Park will be a physical battle with the forwards. Their style of play requires strong defensive  systems around the breakdown. We will be looking to finish on a high,  and with five points set in the mind."

Ealing Trailfinders team

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

16 – Buchanan, 17 – Neville 18 – Winterbottom, 19 – Essien, 20 – Briggs

Ealing number 8 Guthrie Halls takes on the Lydney back row

Second row Gethin Davies secures possession

Following their penultimate game at Vallis Way two weeks ago, Ealing Trailfinders once again are on the road, this time to Gloucestershire and Lydney for the rearranged N2S fixture.

Last weekend’s games did not go Ealing’s way as Rosslyn Park visit to Clifton saw them come away with a clinical 36-0 victory. The result means that if Park win their final game, away to 7th place Canterbury by 4 tries, they will be assured of a play off spot with the second placed team in National 2 North and the right to play their rugby in National 1 next season.

This result will have no bearing on Ealing’s preparation for this weekend’s trip to Lydney, and as head coach Kieran Power said before training this week, "Lydney is a big game for us for a few reasons, last season we went there at the end of April and were well beaten and it was the last game of our season and left us a long time to ponder over such a bad defeat. This year we are going there with a chance (slim one though) of sneaking into a playoff position, all the boy’s are completely focused on the task at hand as Lydney is not a place to go for the faint hearted, and all will be reminded of last season’s result to make sure we right some wrongs."

Lydney are currently in 11th place, having won 8 and lost 18 of their 26 games played to date. Last week saw them go down to a narrow last minute  27-28 defeat to Canterbury.

A brief history of Lydney RFC

Lydney RFC was founded in 1888, when there were already 8 teams playing in the town.

The club drew its strength and many of its players from the local tinplate works, and for many years Lydney RFC were known as the ‘Tinplaters’. The first President, Charles Bathurst, later the first Lord Bledisloe, held the position for 70 years. Lord Bledisloe became Governor General of New Zealand in the 1930s and gave his name to the Bledisloe Cup, the Rugby Union trophy competed for by Australia and New Zealand.

There is still a strong connection between Lydney and New Zealand, especially the Waikato Province, and there is a regular exchange of players between Lydney and Waikato clubs.

For a town with a population which has only recently exceeded 10,000, Lydney has more than held its own against clubs from bigger towns, and has a great record in the national knock out cup, playing Saracens, Sale and Exeter Chiefs in recent years. They have not been out of the National Leagues since the league system started.

In the last 40 years or so Lydney has produced internationals such as Chris Williams, Gordon Sargent, Bev Dovey, Trevor Wintle and Peter Kingston.

Lydney in 2010

Lydney started the 2009-10 season with high hopes. The visited Vallis Way in September and were very disappointed to come away on the back of a 50-18 defeat. No doubt they will be looking for a reversal this weekend. Their form coming into the game has seen them with only two wins out of their last six games . They were on the back of a Barking steam roller when they won the league, but their other losses have been by slender margins, three defeats by a total of five points shows they will be no pushover.

Daniel Freeman is their top try scorer with 9 tries, whilst fly half Mark Davies tops the points list 92 points, followed by Anthony Wicks on 72.

The stats:

Both teams have played 26 games. Lydney have 70 tries compared to Ealing’s 125. Of those 70, 40 have been scored at Regentsholm, whilst we have scored 55 away from Vallis Way. Lydney score over half of them in the second half of games, whilst we look at a more 50:50 ratio. 26 of their tries are scored by the backs and 43 by the grunt merchants. Our split is 31 v 90!

Previous results between Ealing Trailfinders & Lydney

19/09/09 Ealing Trailfinders 50 Lydney 18

25/04/09 Lydney 17 Ealing Trailfinders 7

11/10/08 Ealing Trailfinders 53 Lydney 16

15/03/08 Ealing Trailfinders 45 Lydney 13

24/11/07 Lydney 10 Ealing Trailfinders 31

Ealing return to Vallis Way on Saturday 8th May, for their final league game of the season against Westcombe Park. Kick off is 3pm

With no 1st XV fixture for us this weekend , all eyes will be on the Clifton v Park game. Can Clifton do us a favour and stop Park getting the bonus point win they so badly want? Champions Barking are on the road to Shelford.

Barnes v Bridgwater & Albion

Barnes batted above their average last weekend at Vallis Way – Can they maintain that? I think they should – Home win with the full 5 points.

Clifton v Rosslyn Park

No doubt the game of the weekend! We took Clifton’s home record and Park will aim to inflict the second defeat on the Bristol based side. At this time of the season there will be a lot of sore bodies, can Park get themselves up for this? Afraid to say I think they can, a few are not expecting, or hoping for the bonus point win, but I think they have enough in the tank – Away win will all 5 points.

Lydney v Canterbury

Lydney, back on home turf after their mauling is East London last week. Many expect Lydney to bounce back. I think they may get losing point in this tight one, butt going with away win.

Richmond v Dings Crusaders

Great win for the Mond last week at Canterbury – They should keep it up this weekend. Home win

Shelford v Barking

Post winning blues for Barking? I doubt it. Away win to show their championship status

Southend v Worthing

Could be a cracker of a game 5th v 6th. Worthing have been the unbeaten since their defeat at Vallis Way including downing the colours of Park. Another win on the road for them tomorrow as well.

Westcombe Park v Henley

12th plays 11th – Nothing but pride at stake in this game. Both teams lost last week, Henley in a close one v Southend , and Coombe suffering a mauling against Park . On form I would say a close away win.

Ealing Trailfinders were made to fight all the way for this league win, by a determined Barnes outfit who arrived at Vallis Way knowing that a good win was the only way they would maintain their National League 2 status. 

Speaking after the game, Ealing second row Gethin Davies said "Credit must go to Barnes who played some good rugby throughout the game. However, our plan was to play with intensity both in defence and attack. I feel that we did this well at times and dominated for large periods of the game. It was a great day for running rugby and I think we’ll all agree rugby was the real winner with 90 points being scored overall. Hopefully Rosslyn Park will drop a point now over the last few games. Individual praise must go to Joe Price for his new look haircut and man of the match performance. Also to my fellow ginge Hodge who has deserved player of the season. Thanks GREEN ARMY." 

Ealing started the game, sponsored by MSL Limited, at a canter. Playing up the infamous Vallis Way slope Ealing kicked off and Barnes didn’t take the kick off, and the ball bounced back into Ealing’s hands. Morgan Thompson span the ball wide, and after less than 30 seconds on the clock, Barnes’ Chairman Mike Whitefield had a look of foreboding on his face as prop Sungo Kuwana, showed a turn of pace Phil Chester’s would have been proud off as he crashed through the Barnes defence to open the scoring . Thompson added the conversion.

Further tries were added on 3 minutes by wing Phil Chester’s and centre Joe Price to take Ealing to a 17-0 lead with only 5 minutes on the clock. Whilst the home supporters were thinking of a cricket score, Barnes had other ideas. They played some sensible route one rugby and following a driving maul, Ealing were adjust to have infringed, leading to referee Terry Hall to award the visitors a penalty try to take the score to 17-7 with 14 minutes gone.

Barnes full back Warren Gower added to penalty on 27 minutes, after Ealing’s Kuwana was adjudged to have come in at the side and the crowd seem shocked to see him being dispatched to the sin bin for 10 minutes rest! 

Phil Chesters was again on the score sheet for his 30th try of the season, following some neat interplay from Ben Ward & Marcus Burcham, put the Ealing flyer clear, he invaded two tackles with a wonderful swerve . Morgan Thompson added the conversion from out wide on the left hand side. Chesters added his second try on 32 minutes after some great spoiling work at the base of the scrum saw the ball come out and Morgan Thompson was the quickest to respond, moving the ball out to the backs. Chesters beat three men to go over unopposed.

Barnes prop responded just before the break, Gower converting to take the score at half time to 34-19. Despite the fact that the home side had scored 5 tries before the break, many felt that Barnes would continue to create problems for Ealing if they could retain possession.

A quick try for Barnes, following the break,  by their useful looking fly half Gareth Williams Davies converted by Gower, bought the score to to 34-29, Barnes were very much in the game as the Barnes’ chairman looked exceedingly smug in the sponsors box!

Ealing continued to move the Barnes pack around, trying to unlock a determined defence. Owen Bruynseels crossed the line, very much route one on 56 minutes, after a trade mark cross kick from fly half Ben Ward.  Ealing were now looking to wrack up more tries, and they crossed for 4 tries in a 10 minute period ,  with the ever dangerous Pete Hodgkinson splitting the Barnes defence , before Markus Burcham, deservedly scored after a great game  for the young centre. The industrious number 8 Guthrie Hall was the recipient of great work by Dave Essien, and he crossed for two tries on 75 and 79 minutes.

Ealing’s full back Pete Hodgkinson said, "Going up by 17 points so early may have led to complacency but I believe that Barnes, fighting for National League survival, dug in deep and played well. We did help them out however, giving away needless penalties and sometimes pushing extra passes when holding on and retaining possession may have been the better option. Never the less we produced some nice flowing moves and some good team tries, crucially securing the bonus point win and thus maintaining pressure on Rosslyn Park. It’s nice to have the good weather back and to get some flowing rugby going once more! "

Following the game, Ealing centre, Joe Price was voted as the man of the match, and was presented with his award after the game by MSL’s Ms Cathy Bedford.

Ealing’s position remains unchanged following Rosslyn Park’s home win against Westcome Park. To have a chance of getting the all important 2nd place they must rely on Rosslyn Park dropping a point whilst winning their games with the maximum points available. Barking were crowned National 2 South Champions on Saturday, following their 96-15 demolition of Ealing Trailifnders next opponents Lydney.

Ealing’s Director or Rugby  Mike Cudmore  said "I was very pleased with our start.  We then drifted away from what we are good at and this had an impact on our ability to put them under sustained pressure which we had applied early on and brought results.  As the game progressed we created more opportunities and this improved the final score line" 

For further photos from the game, please see the club’s gallery :  http://www.ealingrugby.com/index.php?option=com_simgallery&Itemid=188&func=viewalbum&aid=103

Thanks to Fenton Willis.

Ealing Trailfinders:

15 – Pete Hodgkinson 14 – Owen Bruynseels 13- Markus Burcham 12 – Joe Price 11 – Phil Chesters 10 – Ben Ward 9 – Morgan Thompson 1- Sungo Kuwana 2 – Jon Moyce 3 – Dinos Alexpoulous   4 – Ryan Gregory 5 – Gethin Davies 6 – Blair Morris 7-  Jay King (C) 8 – Guthrie Hall

Subs – 16 –  Lewis Brown  17 – Steve Neville 18 –  James Winterbottom 19 – Richard Briggs  20 – Dave Essien

Ealing scorers :

Tries – Kuwana, Chesters 2, Price, Bruynseels, Hodgkinson , Burcham, Thompson, Hall 2

Conversions – Thompson 6

Barking v Lydney

Barking can wrap the title up this weekend with a five point win…They should do that and deserve to be N2S champions. Home win.

Bridgwater & Albion v Clifton

After last weekend’s mauling at home by us, Clifton should have a comfortable away trip and 5 point win at Bridgy. Away win.

Canterbury v Richmond

7th plays 9th. Mond lost last week against champions elect Barking, whilst Canterbury had a week off. No luck this time on the road for Mond, although they may get a precious losing bp. Home win

 Henley Hawks v Southend

Henley suffered a late loss against one of the form teams Worthing on the road last weekend, but Southend on the back on downing Park last weekend should win this one by some margin and take all 5 points. Away win.

Rosslyn Park v Westcombe Park

Come on Coombe – Lets make it three on the trot for Park 🙂 I actually think Rosslyn Park will bounce back but will keep the ear to the ground for the result with interest. Home win.

Shelford v Worthing

Shelford’s poor form to continue as Worthing continue their impressive end of season run. Away win.

What a difference two weeks can be. After the defeat to Barking by the slimmest of margins, any chance of promotion or a play of spot looked a slender possibility! 

Who said leagues are won in December?

…..As the spring arrived the rugby gods have begun to smile on us, and  following Rosslyn Parks back to back defeats to Southend (32-29) and Worthing (23-33) , we are now back in the race, all be it we must depend on Park dropping a point here or there…….Is it over?  I don’t think so.

So we welcome back Barnes RFC to Vallis Way. It has been a while since their last visit, indeed since  we were both in London 1.

Their season has been a tough one so far , but they are really digging in to give themselves a chance of survival in N2S. Last week they beat Dings at Barnes Elms in a tight game 24-21, so they will be up for this visit to Vallis Way.

A history of Barnes RFC

Barnes Rugby Club is a club with a rich history and was established in Barnes in the 1920’s. Although there are indeed possibilities that our earliest recorded match was in November 1862 versus Richmond and played at Barn Elms, it is from the 1920’s that our true history is clear.

For many years we played at Harrodian Club in Lonsdale Road, Barnes, which is now The Harrodian School, before moving to our Barn Elms location in 1994.

Barnes RFC 1st XV has been promoted eight times since being arriving in Surrey Division Three in l987.

The 1st XV now play in National 2 having gained promotion in the 2008/2009 season.

Barnes in 2010

Barnes’ first season in National 2 South has been a baptism of fire, they sit in 14th position with 4 wins from their 25 games. They have had many close losses, but their problems have been caused by not crossing the whitewash on a regular basis. A highlight no doubt will have been the away win at the Athletic Ground as they defeated long time Surrey foes Richmond 21-32 in November , which led to Barnes Chairman Rhino Whitfield being quoted as saying "Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry VIII, George Eliot, Bertrand Russell, Bamber Gascoigne, Mick Jagger, Henry Head! Can you hear me, David Corben, your boys took one hell of a beating, your boys took one hell of a beating!"

Anthony Wilde tops the try scoring list with 7 to his name, whilst Warren Gower is on 6.  Full back Gower has been their saviour on many occasions and he also tops the points list with 175 points.

Coming into this game, their form in the last 6 games has seen 2 wins and 4 losses, the win against Dings last week at Barnes Elms and away at Lydney (31-33) are two highlights. Form away from Barns Elms has seen 4 wins and 9 losses.

Let’s compare the two sides: Both have played 25 games. Barnes have 48 tries to Ealing’s 115 . Of these Barnes have scored 24 home and away whilst we have got 60 at Vallis Way!

17 of Barnes’s tries have been scored by the piggies and 30 by the glamour boys: Our split is 27 against 84….. Barnes have seen yellow on 16 occasions compared to our 10.

Ahead of the game, Ealing’s hooker Jon Moyce said, "last weeks game was a performance many enjoyed (Green Army), the link between the forwards and backs was the reason behind the high score line.Coming from a strong win against Clifton away the confidence within the squad is very high."
 
Training this week has been very match specific with a focus on shutting down the opposition in every area on the pitch. This weeks game against Barnes will see two teams battling for a result which is needed at both ends of the leagues.
 
To beat Barnes, the squad will be required to perform at a high physical level, but for a result that matches the Clifton away win 100% concentration is needed for 80 minutes of the game".
 

Previous results between Ealing Trailfinders RFC & Barnes RFC

06/02/10 Barnes 8 Ealing Trailfinders 73

17/02/07 Ealing Trailfinders 47 Barnes 20

30/09/06 Barnes 27 Ealing Trailfinders 36

21/01/06 Barnes 23 Ealing Trailfinders 13

29/10/06 Ealing Trailfinders 15 Barnes 14

 22 points from scrum half Morgan Thompson helped give Ealing Trailfinders a deserved victory away at Clifton last Saturday. Other results in N2S went the Vallis Way teams way as well, as Southend overcame Rosslyn Park in a nail biting 32-29 win. These results mean that Ealing are now level with Park on points, but are 3rd by virtue of Park’s better playing record.

It does however leave the door ajar for Ealing to get a sniff of a possible promotion play off spot on offer against the second placed side in National 2 North. Both teams have three games left to play, so each match will be like a cup final!

Ealing’s victory also spelled the end to Clifton’s unbeaten home record. A record that the team were aware of before the visit to Station Road. Director of rugby, Mike Cudmore said before "Clifton have not been beaten at home this season and so it will be a touch task for us on Saturday".

So this proved to be the case, as Ealing recorded their 19th win of the season, but not without Clifton putting up a real battle.

Ealing played with  high tempo & ambition for the full 80 minutes as the weeks of wet weather gave way to spring sunshine and firm ground . The hosts Clifton played a full part in this entertaining game, that saw the two teams share nine tries.

Full back Pete Hodgkinson continued this seasons fine form, causing the home sides defence problems on numerous occasions. Ealing Trailfinders took an early lead as Clifton were penalised in the first minute for offside. Scrum half Morgan Thompson calmly slotted the first of his three penalties. Clifton’s full back Sam Smee, crossed the Ealing line on 15 minutes after good work by the home sides forwards to put him clear.

Ealing extended their lead when lock Gethin Davies crashed over the line, Thompson again proving to have his kicking boots on to take the score to 10-5 to the visitors on 18 minutes. Then twoquick tires, one apiece, bought the game to life, first to the outstanding Ealing blindside flanker Luke Wallace, who went over after some good phase play, again Thompson converted on 36 minutes before following good work by Clifton’s centre Leonard went over for a solo try, converted by Barnes to take Ealing into the half time break 17-12 ahead.

Clifton started the second half on the front foot as the ball was shipped their own danger man,wing Rob Viol crossed to take the home side into a 19-17 lead.

Ealing responded with tries three minutes apart as firstly number 8 Guthrie Hall capped a fine performance as he crossed for his8th  of the season, followed by wing Owen Bruynseels on  49 minutes. Morgan Thompson converted both to stretch their lead to 33-17.

Clifton pulled a try back on 67 minutes as flanker Dean Taylor- Menzies following a catch and drive to bring the score line back to 33-22 with just over 13 minutes left to play.

Thompson extended the lead with two further penalties on 56 and 79 minutes before he crossed for a well deserved try on 81 minutes which he himself converted to take his personal haul to 22 points in a great all round man of the match display.

Scrum half Morgan Thompson said after the game "It was a great effort by all players to keep such quick tempo throughout the 80 minutes considering the heat. I heard it got up to 22 degrees! There is always room for improvement, which im sure we will address during training as we missed a couple of opportunities.The race for promotion is getting exciting now and if we put in performances like we did against Clifton in our remaining 3 games, I am confident that we will be in that play off for National 1!" 

Clifton’ player/coach, Matt Slater was full of praise for the Vallis Way side’s style of play. He said after the game, "This was Ealing’s cup final today, and they were really up for the game. We are very disappointed to have lost our unbeaten home record," but Ealing played with a high tempo and combined with a solid set pieces and a good work rate throughout and were good value for the win.

Ealing’s fly half Ben Ward  commenting after the game said  "It was a good game of rugby, two teams that like to play attacking styles. We were pleased to go to Clifton and take all 5 points. They had not been beaten at home so this made it even more satisfying".

For photos of today’s game please visit the club’s online gallery.

Jay King was full of praise for his young side "It was great performance this weekend, Clifton are a great rugby playing side. They play with a lot of width and really tested us. To pick up an away bonus point at Clifton is a great result for us, especially as they were unbeaten there this season. As we close in on the end of the season we need to be striving for these types of big performances".

This weekend Ealing Trailfinders return to Vallis Way for their penultimate home game, as the entertain Barnes RFC, a game postponed from December.

Kick off is 3pm and the game is being sponsored by MSL Limited.

There is also an ex Colts reunion Lunch. Please contact secretary Les O’Gorman to reserve your place

Ealing Trailfinders team

15 – Pete Hodgkinson ,14 – Phil Chesters, 13 – Markus Burcham , 12 – Joe Price ,11 – Owen Bruynseels, 10 – Ben Ward, 9 – Morgan Thompson, 8 – Guthrie Hall, 7 –  Jay King (C), 6 –  Luke Wallace , 5 – Gethin Davies , 4 – Ryan  Gregory,  3 – Dinos Alexopoulos, 2 – Jon Moyce, 1 – Sungo Kuwana

16 – Rob Buchanan, 17 – Steve Neville , 18- James Winterbottom, 19 – Dave  Essien, 20 –  Richard Briggs

So what else is happening away from Vallis Way this weekend as the weather improves and so does everyone’s mood?

Barnes v Dings Crusaders

On paper Dings should win this and given Barnes recent form I tend to agree. Away win and maybe nothing for our friends from Barnes Elms!

Lydney v Shelford

Lydney had a good win over Mond last weekend whilst injury ravaged Shelford were mauled by Henley at home as well!  They don’t travel well either, so lets go for a 5 point home win.

Richmond v Barking

Can Richmond do us and Park a favour? I doubt it. Away win with all 5 points to keep Barking ahead in the title race.

Southend v Rosslyn Park

Could this prove another stumbling block for Park as they battle it out with us for 3rd spot. They were well beaten last week, but will point to injuries as being their undoing….. Southend were given a tough 15-0 away win @ Bridgy last weekend. In their last 6 games Southend have lost to us and Barking, but their home form has seen them only loose 3 games and 2 of those have been by 1 point!…. Heart says Southend, head says Park, but yes it will be close. Away win and a loosing BP for Southend!

Westcombe Park v Bridgwater & Albion

Despite B&A  decent result for them at home last weekend, IF Westcombe decide the pitch is to their liking and the game goes ahead, I would expect an away win.

Worthing v Henley Hawks

Worthing buoyed after completing their double over Park last weekend, will dent Henley’s new found confidence – Home win with all the points.

This coming weekend, Ealing Trailfinders board the bus for the trip to Bristol to face 4th placed Clifton RFC. Despite Clifton’s close loss to Dings in the mud last week, 17-15, Mike Cudmore’s squad will expect a stern test at Station Road,  where Clifton have won 10 out of 11 occasions ( a 6-6 draw against Dings) , including a 17-13 win over league leaders Barking.

Clifton’s DoR Darren Lloyd has assembled a team that is difficult to beat on their home patch, and they will be keen to take another top three scalp, having already downed Barking’s colours this season

Director of Rugby Mike Cudmore said before training Thursday,  "Clifton have not been beaten at home this season so it will be a tough task for us this Saturday.  We were all very disappointed not to have played last week but that has meant that the niggles and soreness the players have been carrying have had time to repair and they are all fresh and looking forward to going there and looking to deliver the result we need"

A history of Clifton RFC 

Clifton Rugby Club was formed on 27th September 1872 at the Kings Arms on Blackboy Hill in Clifton, Bristol. The pub still stands , although it was rebuilt in 1902, and since refurbishment in the late 1990’s was known as Bohemia. It was then renamed Babushka, then Stark and was refurbished and renamed The Black Bear at the end of 2007. We are the 30th oldest club in the United Kingdom, the 19th oldest in England, the 2nd oldest in the South West (Bath beat us by 7 years) and the oldest in Bristol.

We have had 3 players gain international honours while playing for Clifton, James Arthur Bush in 1872, 73, 75, and 76, Hiatt Cowles Baker in 1887 and John Currie 1956-62. Many players have played for their country before or after playing for Clifton, most notable of these are 2 England captains, in 1955 Peter Young and in 1967 Colin McFadyean and the first captain of Wales, James Alfred Bevan, in 1881.

What are Clifton all about in 2010?

Clifton are currently sitting in 4th place in N2S, 16 wins 2 draws and 6 losses. They are on 80 points 13 behind Ealing.

John Barnes, their fly half is toppoints scorer with 124, whilst wing Rob Viol has 17 tries to his name, and full back Sam Smee has 9.

Their form has been good, From their last 6 games they have 4 wins and 2losses ( Dings last week and away to Barking ). But their home form is most impressive, 10 wins and 1 draw!

Looking at the stats: From the 24 games both teams have played : Clifton have scored 315 points at home, whilst Ealing have scored 375 away from Vallis Way. Of their 77 tries scored , 45 of them have been at Station Road, whilst 50 of Ealing’s have been away!

23 of Clifton’s have been scored by the piano shifters and 52 by the piano players, whilst Ealing’s is more dominated by the players 24 v 82!

Discipline : Clifton have 9 yellow Cards , Sam Wilkes and Matt Slater have 2 apiece.

Recent games between Ealing Trailfinders& Clifton

12/12/09 Ealing Trailfinders 36 Clifton 11

16/02/09 Clifton 22 Ealing Trailfinders 36

20/07/07 Ealing Trailfinders 71 Clifton 17