Ealing Trailfinders’ trip to Somerset proved to be a fruitful one as they came away with a 15-54 victory, securing all five league points and with it keeping hold of second place in National 2 South. Leaders Barking also won, whilst our visitors to Vallis Way next weekend, Rosslyn Park, although winning against Dings Crusaders, failed to secure a bonus point. It leaves the top of the table unchanged, Barking and Ealing level pegging on 80 points, with Rosslyn Park in 3rd on 77 points.
Director of Rugby Mike Cudmore was positive after the game, but will be aware of the challange that Park pose this weekend. Mike said, "We were very clinical in the first half against Bridgwater but felt we did not produce the same level of quality in the second period. The important thing was to get the Shelford game out of our system and get back to winning ways. The Rosslyn Park game will be very competitive, as you expect from two sides at the top of the table. Big games are won by teams who deliver on the day so we will be working hard this week in training in preparation for the game and look to take it onto the pitch. All are looking forward to the game and producing a good home performance for our supporters "
Bridgwater have had their own problems this season and unfortunately for them they continued at the weekend, with further injuries to their depleted side.
Ealing were in no mood for charity at the weekend after their loss to Shelford the previous weekend. An early penalty miss by Ben Ward was an early blemish, as Ealing began to dominate proceedings, showing their free flowing style of rugby that has become a trademark of their season.
Phil Chesters crossed for the first of his two tries on 24 minutes, Ward adding the two points. An early yellow card on 24 minutes to skipper Matt Hastie was the impetus for Ealing to move through the gears, and Chesters’ fellow wing, Owen Bryunseels, was on the end of a superb move for the first of his three tries of the day. Ben Ward striking a superb conversion from the right hand touchline.
Bridgy number 8 Greg Charlton pulled back 3 points on 29 minutes with a well struck 42m penalty, but the relief was short lived as Bruynseels crossed on 33 minutes from a crossed field kick from the impressive Ben Ward, who then added the conversion to take the score to 21-3 to the visitors.
The home side’s indiscipline continued on 36 minutes as centre Jacob Childs was shown a yellow card for infringement at the ruck . Quick thinking from Ben Ward saw him take quick tap penalty and go over on 36 minutes, whilst Bruynsells completed his first half hatrick on 39 minutes to take the visitors into half time 35-3 up.
The relentless pressure on the home side did not stop, and straight after half time, full back Pete Hodgkinson, who had an excellent game throughout, scored out wide on the left. It was left to Ward to add the extra two points. The home side pressed Ealing back into their 22, but stealing the ball at the breakdown Ealing moved the ball into the wide expanses, finding the speedy Phil Chesters, he crossed for his second of the day. Ward again adding the conversion.
Bridgwater wing Damian Griffin gave the home supporters something to cheer about, being on the end of a well worked move to go in wide on the left, the conversion was missed.
On 60 minutes young flanker Luke Wallace was replaced by the influential Dave Essien and a favourite of the home supporters (having played his early rugby for Taunton). His introduction led to an almost immediate try and after a typical barnstorming run led to Ealing’s 8th and Ben Ward’s 7th conversion of the day.
Home skipper Matt Hastie had the last say for Bridgewater on 71 minutes, but by then the game was far far away from the home team. Ealing dominated in all phases but to their credit Bridgwater & Albion never gave up.
Ealing’s hat trick hero Owen Bruynseels said after the game "The result was a pleasing one, it was important that after last Saturday we bounced back with a good win. As a team we put together some great passages of play, securing the bonus point before half time, and on a personal note it’s always pleasing when you score three in a game! I’m sure that as a team we’ll look at our performance and see areas where we can improve in the build up to the game against Park on Saturday."
Ealing Trailfinders skipper Jay King said "The fixture against Bridgwater was our 3rd on the road in a row. It was a good reaction to the disappointing loss the previous week. There were some great elements to our game. The try from our own line, was a particular highlight. Now we are looking forward to this weekend’s game against Park. We will approach it with the same level of commitment that we do for all games."
This coming weekend Ealing welcome to Vallis Way 3rd placed Rosslyn Park. This promises to be another table topping game, kick off is 2pm .
For match photos please visit – http://www.sportsouthwest.co.uk/gallery/gallery_316/gallery.htm
Our thanks to Bob Hatchers of Sports South West for providing these photos also to Harry Thrump for taking them.
Ealing Trailfinders team:
15 – Pete Hodgkinson 14 – Owen Bruynseels 13 – Markus Burcham 12 – Joe Price 11 – Phil Chesters 10 – Ben Ward 9 – Paddy Gill 1 – Steve Neville 2 – Jon Moyce 3 – Sungo Kuwana 4 -Blair Morris 5 – James Winterbottom 6 – Luke Wallace 7 – Jay King (captain) 8 – Guthrie Hall
16 – Lewis Brown 17 – Kieran Power 18 – Gethin Davies 19 – Dave Essien 20 – Richard Briggs
Well done to all who played on Saturday, a good solid win (even if we did go off the boil for the second half), 34 unanswered points and to be fair they never really looked like troubling our line. Well done to Paul L for his 140 metre, interception try, to our guest Greg Ward for his debut score and committed play by everyone.
This weekend Ealing Trailfinders travel down to Somerset to visit Bath Road and Bridgwater & Albion RFC. A club dating back to the turn of the century. They have not endured the best of fortunes this season and recently parted company with their hugely likeable director of rugby Mike Tewkesbury. They are currently sitting in the basement spot in N2S , but the team will be on their guard, despite winning just two home games they have run many a side close this season.
Director of Rugby Mike Cudmore was aware of how important the cards were to the result, but did look on some positive aspects. He said after the game "We played most the game with 14 men and at one point went down to 13 for ten minutes. The players who were left on the pitch worked hard and never stopped trying to get something out of the game. Once the ref had finally binned a Shelford player (after ten second half penalties) in the last minute of the game we produced a try and came away with a point from the game".
Ealing fly half Ben Ward echoed this as well. After the game he said, "Playing with 14 men changed the game for sure. On saying that we still showed great spirit to come back and get the bonus point right at the end. There are areas of our game we were not happy with and we have to respond in a positive manner this weekend away at Bridgwater. "
The date was 6 October 1933 when an announcement was made through the Cambridge Independent Press – “ A rugby section of Shelford Amateur Sports Association has now definitely been formed.. Club colours will be claret vests with white collars” – and so the story begins for Shelford Rugby Club. The first ground was loaned to the Club by Mrs Goldsmith- Martin and was close to Shelford Railway Station with changing facilities at the nearby Railway Tavern. 
The tackle area is one of the most contentious areas of the game at the moment and features in almost every match report, from the Premiership down to the community game. It generates commentary from enthusiasts and frequently results in negative feedback to referees from coaches and players. Frustration abounds. The referee has to contend with players coming off their feet, slowing delivery of the ball from the tackle and ensuing rucks, coming in from the side and producing negative play. The speed at which the breakdown occurs and events then take place on the ground make it extremely hard to referee, but as referees we have a duty to referee this area correctly in law and to manage it to produce a fair contest and a more flowing, better quality game, in which both teams believe they have been treated fairly. Equally players must remember that it is they who are playing negatively, not the referee and must adapt their behaviour.
The Ealing Exiles fail to hold back the invading Spaniards in a close and enjoyable 5-12 loss on Sunday 7 February 2010. Nick Greenhalgh reports.
