This weekend saw the Ealing Exiles travel to North London for the season’s first Merit Table game against Haringey II. Although the Exiles had a reasonable team sheet only ten players actually turned up at the ground for the game.
A welcoming and gracious Haringey loaned Ealing four players and the game got under way with Haringey winning the toss and electing to receive. With good pressure from the kick-off Exiles prompted Haringey to clear their lines with a kick to touch.
From the line-out on the Exiles’ ten metre line, Steve R rose high into the air to catch the ball and set up a fifteen metre drive. James O’B then released the ball to the backs and through quick hands Adam T, our outside centre, took a crash ball and scythed through the Haringey defence before being brought to ground well inside their 22. The ball was recycled and Michael T was tackled just short of the line but Adam T went in at the corner for an unconverted try. This awoke the beast of a well-drilled Haringey side and saw Ealing Exiles defending for most of the half. Despite gallant efforts and some crunching defensive tackles, Haringey ran in two tries to close the half 12-5.
The second half started in the same vein with Haringey stamping their authority onto the game and the Exiles imploding under the pressure, resulting in three unanswered tries.
Now playing for pride, the Exiles regrouped in the final quarter and substituting tactical kicking for keeping the ball in hand, took the fight back to Haringey. Their efforts were soon rewarded when after a penalty and five phases the big tight head prop, on loan from Haringey, took a crash ball five metres from the line and with a surprising and deft sidestep for such a big man, scored without contact under the posts. Another of the Haringey boys in an Ealing shirt was disallowed a try for a very obvious double movement.
Haringey then took their tally of tries to seven, however as a final response Ealing’s forwards and backs combined, again skilfully moving the ball through hands, enabling Michael T to score in the corner. With neither side wishing to quit and both determined to score the final try, Haringey II emerged worthy victors well after full time when the ball was knocked on in mid-field.
Steve
| Haringey II 37 | Ealing Exiles 15 | ||
| Tries: | (7) | Tries: | Adam T, loan player, Michael T |
| Cons: | (1) | Cons: | |
| Pens: | Pens: | ||
| Drops: | Drops: | ||
