Ealing Trailfinders Academy 27-24 British Army Academy
The young Trailfinders side survived a sustained second half assault by the British Army Academy to record their second straight win of the season at Vallis Way.
The first half had been a completely different affair with Ealing playing some excellent rugby, a dominant scrum and set piece set the platform for attack after attack, some very average passing prevented the boys from capitalizing on the overlaps that were being created.
Wing Andre Adeleke was the first to get on the score board, a strong run and offload from opposite winger Reon Joseph to full back Josh Steadman who’s simple pass allowed a walk in by Adeleke. Steadman was next with a fine individual effort, recovering a kick on half way he set off on a mazy run to the line leaving 4 defenders in his wake.
A strong carry by hooker Chris Joyce peeling off the back of a shortened line out sucked in the Army defence and a clever rewind by scrum half Andrew Nurse put skipper Marcus Lowe over the whitewash. A period of good interplay between backs and forwards saw second row Nyall Wake act as scrum half to feed Adeleke for his second of the day.
The second half was somewhat disjointed with several changes by Academy Director John Lacey making continuity difficult. The Army seized the initiative and used their powerful carriers to dominate where previously they had been snuffed out.
Apart from some stout defence late on, a disallowed try by winger Rasaan Samms was the only high spot for Ealing fans in the half.
John Lacey said “Our first half performance was very good, we spilt too much ball in contact which was a worry but our speed of play was very good. We missed some pace in the back row but our midfield balance was better this time out. It was clear to see the lads who have been playing every week and those returning from injury.
We will need to be stronger against the Royal Navy next month, they pretty much blew us away last year and will be looking to go into the Inter Services Championship on a high after losing to Exeter Chiefs Academy”.
The Academy’s next game is against the Royal Navy away at HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth on Sunday 6th November, kick off is at 14:00.
Ealing Trailfinders Academy
Steadman J, Joseph, Hitchcock C, Townshend, Adeleke, McMinn, Nurse, Lowe, Day, Kritikos, Wake, Ellingham, Chamnaoui, Joyce, Vosabalavu
Replacements
Collins, Barton, Bannister, Retter, MacDougall, Nolan-Hutchinson, Jarvis, Samms, Walker, Luk
Scorers
Tries – Adeleke 2, Steadman J, Lowe
Cons – McMinn 2
Pens – McMinn
