Colchester v Ealing Trailfinders Academy lost 19 – 15
An early start beckoned as the Academy faced the long journey to Colchester on Sunday.
Good early pressure from the Ealing forwards yielded a penalty attempt which Fly half Yun Shun Luk converted to get the first points on the board.
Colchester responded well with some strong running from their forward pack attacking the fringes of the breakdown area, our defence held well but the Essex side breached the line with a powerful run from their No8 who wasn’t going to be stopped and the days first try went to the home side.
A period of dominant play from Trailfinders followed as forwards and backs carried well, scrum half George Hawkins was busy feeding the attacking line, two swift tries from Marcus Lowe and Luk and a successful conversion made the half time score 5 – 15 to the visitors.
The second half proved a difficult affair, repeated infringements at the breakdown allowed Colchester to gain possession and field position. Resolute defence from the West Londoners kept the score in our favour but the inability to build the phases without drawing the ire of the referee meant it was inevitable a score would come.
Colchester pounded the line and following a yellow card for Kier Higgins fora team infringement went over close to the posts, the conversion made the score 12 -15. With the Academy down to 14 Colchester made their extra man count and produced an overlap out of nowhere to score wide out, a fine conversion took them 4 points clear.
Ealing responded well in the final minutes, getting over the line twice but failing to ground the ball. Time finally ran out and the game was lost, but lessons had surely been learned.
Good luck next week to Academy players Tyler Bush, Marcus Lowe, Yun Shun Luk, Rassan Samms, Louis Walker and Chris Wells who represent Middlesex U18 against Surrey at Staines RFC.
Ealing Trailfinders Academy
Steadman, Shehabi, Clarke, Day, Walker, Luk, Hawkins, Lowe, Leonard-Fox, Avis, Arnett, Wake, Nash, Hitchcock, Wells
Replacements
Czop, Riorden, Higgins, Adamah, Cordell, Samms, Jumman
Scorers
Tries – Lowe, Lu
Conversions – Luk
Penalties – Luk
