Academy A keep clean sheet at Farnham

Farnham v Ealing Trailfinders Academy A won 0 – 34

The Academy A side turned up at a very windy Farnham and got straight into match prep. At time of kick off the wind had not abetted and we found ourselves playing head long into the stiffening breeze. The early encounters were encouraging, looking after the ball well, carrying and using our game process to great effect. Farnham put us under some pressure by taking the ball down the 9, 10 channel but our defence coped well.

On 10 minutes, Trailfinders repulsed just such an attack, turned the ball over and were away. At first the ball went to the left with some great short ball carries then shifting the ball wide. The ball was recycled the other way and again with some great hands the ball found its way to the right and into probably the best player in the first half’s hands. Tommy Riordan went over for the first score.

The following ten minutes followed the same pattern and Ealing were pressuring Farnham in their own 22. Farnham tried to clear with a kick, unfortunately for them Lewis Steadman was on hand to charge down, follow up and score under the posts with George Hawkins adding the extras. The half ended with Ealing continuing to play well against the wind and to turn around up at half time was a great effort.

The second half would require a slightly different approach and our game would revolve around using the elements to the best effect. So, early in the second half we used the wind well and within a couple of minutes we had a penalty just outside the opposition 22. A quick tap by George and a dart to the right. Some good hands but Farnham’s scramble defence held up close to the line. A couple of tidy pick and goes and Nyall Wake was over. George again added the extra 2.  Immediately we used the wind well kicking towards the top right corner. A knock on and we had a scrum. The scrum had been working well all game pushing Farnham back on both our ball and theirs. This occasion was no exception. A simple 8, 9 15 move saw Yousif Shehabi, getting his chance at 15, enter the line and unselfishly feed Kieran Akue to go over for the score. Two minutes later and it was a case of déjà vu. Exactly the same situation, exactly the same result with Kieran again going over.Late on the game started to get a bit untidy with handling errors becoming more and more prevalent.

When we did keep it tight and accurate we managed a good forwards try with some good carries and pick on goes. Alex March getting the final   Well done to all.

Ealing Trailfinders Academy A  

Shehabi, Akue, Enoch-Gill, Ajuchi, Johnson, Steadman, Hawkins, McCormack, Hissey, Beavis, Wake, Cox, Hitchcock, Riordan, Czop

Replacements  

Beaumont, Higgins, March

Scorers

Tries – Akue 2, Riordan, Steadman, Wake, March

Conversions – Hawkins 2