Old Elthamians v Ealing Trailfinders Academy lost 11-10
The Academy navigated new waters with this game marking the furthest progress a team from Ealing Trailfinders has made in National competition.
Conditions were excellent at Eltham College and both sides were resolute in their aim to progress to the semi finals.
Old Elthamians started the stronger of the two sides with some strong carries by their pack making good gains into the heart of the Ealing midfield, Good defence and strong cover tackling held firm and reduced this period of dominance to 2 successful penalties.
Awoken by the early onslaught, Trailfinders started to exert some pressure of their own, the forwards started to make a dent in the home defence and the back line led by skipper Will Day began to question their opponents and appeared to score the first try of the game when George Hawkins fed Jake Beavis but the try was adjudged forward. Not to be deterred the pack kept up their good work and flanker Will Alton crossed to open the account with his second try in as many weeks.
Half time didn’t stop the dominance the Academy enjoyed and Chris Wells took the ball over from a well worked line out and put the West London youngsters in front for the first time.
Indiscipline at the breakdown cost possession and territory and with 7 minutes to go Old Elthamians came strong and scored with a big forward carry to regain the lead.
Time finally ran out with Ealing attacking and OE’s defending with heart. So near but not to be.
Best wishes to Old Elthamians in the rest of the competition.
Back to League action for the Academy next week with an away fixture at Old Fullerians.
See you at training!
Ealing Trailfinders Academy
Steadman, Shehabi, Clake, Day, Walker, Luk, Hawkins, Lowe, Beavis, Alton, Avis, Wake, Nash, Hitchcock, Wells
Replacements
Joyce, March, Beaumont, Ajuchi, Isaac, Cordell, Hissey
Scorers
Tries – Alton, Wells
