The Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV will be overjoyed to have secured a resounding 56-15 win over Macclesfield, the only team they failed to beat last season. It took a dazzling second-half performance from Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV, scoring 35 unanswered points against a side that held their own in the first half. The win means Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV remain unbeaten this season after round three.
Macclesfield captain and fly-half Tom Eaton opened the scoring when he successfully kicked a penalty in the opening seconds of the game. The Ealing Trailfinders struck back immediately when outside centre Ronald Mclean-Dents brushed aside several tackles to crash over and score the first try of the game. Tom Wheatcroft added the extra’s to take the score to 7-3. Macclesfield responded in quick fashion when a simple pick from the base of a ruck by industrious hooker Tom Cruise led to a swift line-break before the front rower passed it to Edward Stobbart to sprint in and score. Eaton’s successful conversion took the home side into a 10-7 lead after only 10 minutes played in the match.
Ealing Trailfinders almost hit back instantly after the forwards thundered towards the line before tight-head prop Tim Brockett was held up over the line. The ensuing scrum gave Morgan Thompson a clear stroll to the line to dot down. Wheatcroft’s conversion restored the visitors lead to 14-10. Ealing Trailfinders will be disappointed at their inability to control possession after scoring their points as Macclesfield hit back once again. The Ealing Trailfinders defence was caught wanting, as a dart down the blind-side enabled Mathew Rhodes to score in the corner. Eaton was unsuccessful with the conversion but the hosts still led 15-14. There was an air of predictability that Ealing Trailfinders would score straight away and that is exactly what they did. A try from first phase is a rarity in the modern game but a break by Mclean-Dents from a line-out enabled the impressive centre to off-load to Peter Hodgkinson to score. Ealing Trailfinders went into the half-time break 21-15 up but rueing their mistakes in a pulsating half of rugby for the neutral.
The cliché a game of two halves was particularly apt for this encounter, as Ealing Trailfinders simply blew away the opposition in a fantastic display of attacking rugby. Brockett began the blitz by scoring a try thanks to a break and inter-link play between Thompson and Gavin Curry which was easily converted by Wheatcroft. Further tries by Phil Chesters (2), Thompson and another from Mclean-Dents all converted by the unflappable Wheatcroft confirmed Ealing Trailfinders second-half supremacy and clinched the win for the West London side.
Mike Cudmore Director of Rugby said "We were not happy with lots of facets of our game in the first half and this reflected in the score line at halftime. We discussed what was required from all in the second half and put on a very clinical display in attack and defence and produced a performance we need to strive for each week"
The Ealing Trailfinders welcome No.8 Sam Shires’ former club, Tyndale to Vallis Way this weekend 3pm kick off.
