Ealing Trailfinders Academy 40 – 0 RAF Hawks
The first visit to Vallis Way of an RAF representative aside was a great opportunity for the 23 selected Academy players to show they had learned the lessons from their early season outing against London Scottish.
The first half was a very cagey affair, both sides mounted multiple phases of attack and both sides had well organised and committed defences to repel the assaults.
The deadlock was broken when Academy U18 centre Reon Joseph pounced on a loose pass forced by some great defensive line speed and picked up his own kick through to score under the posts leaving a simple kick for fly half Max McMinn.
A well worked series of attacking phases created space for tight head prop Zaki Chamnaoui to run in for try before Joseph added his second try of the day and third of the season.
the half time score of 19-0 was possibly harsh on the RAF and they would have expected more to show for their possession stats, but the young Trailfinders defence was operating as well as it ever has.
The second half continued much the same way as the first, despite changes of personnel the coordinated efforts in defence and attack if anything improved.
Alfie Hill, marked his debut for the Academy with two well taken tries, the first an interception and the second the result of a turnover at a breakdown. A man of the match performance from the flanker hopefully bodes well for the flanker who has been impressive since his arrival.
Captain and No8 Marcus Lowe scored what was possible the try of the game and a definite candidate for try of the season. Receiving the ball faced with a well organised defence, Marcus decided to chip over the flat defensive line and collected his own kick on the full and accelerated around the covering full back to score a real cracker.
This was a great showing by the boys and sets up our next fixture against the Army U23 on Sunday 16th October again at Vallis Way and again kicking off at 14:30.
We’d love to see as many of you on the touchline to cheer on the lads.
Ealing Trailfinders Academy
Steadman J, Samms, Joseph, Townshend, Adeleke, McMinn, Nurse, Lowe, Avis, Hill, Wake, Ellingham, Chamnaoui, Joyce, Hitchcock T
Replacements
Bannister, Collins, Miller, Kritikos, Segre, Nolan-Hutchinson, Jarvis, Walker.
Scorers
Tries – Joseph (2), Chamnaoui, Hill (2), Lowe
Conversions – McMinn (2), Nolan Hutchinson (3)
