REPORT: Ealing Trailfinders 3 – 64 Leeds Carnegie

Ealing Trailfinders returned from their trip to Leeds Carnegie defeated, but having managed to play their expansive style at times against a side that is likely to be challenging for a place in the promotion play-offs come the end of the season.

Leeds didn’t take long to open the scoring when fullback Stevie McColl took a reverse pass and found a way through the defence, which fly-half Alex Lozowski converted.

Soon after the Ealing-born Lozowski stretched the lead further with a long-range penalty from the halfway line, but Andy Hall hit back with three-pointer of his own soon after.

After a frenetic opening 10 minutes the match settled into life with the hosts on top and eventually they added a second try. McColl led a counter-attack and after the ball was recycled scrumhalf Craig Hampson wiggled through to score.

Ealing continued to fight hard, but were unable to find a way through a well-drilled defence and once again it was the Leeds fullback who set the Yorkshire club up for another score.

He picked a strong line to break Trailfinders’ defence and popped the ball to centre Josh Griffin to score. Then just before halftime captain Jacob Rowan powered through to wrap up the four-try bonus point.

As the half wore on Ealing won a number of penalties close to the Leeds line and despite a number of drives the hosts were able to clear their lines to signal half-time.

Trailfinders’ spirited display continued after half-time as they added pace to the game and began to stretch the home side’s defence. However, after nearly 20 minutes it was Leeds Number 8 Ryan Burrows who broke the second half deadlock.

As the match drew to a close Leeds wing Jonah Holmes scored a fortunate fifth and hooker Joe Graham added a sixth. Lozowski continued his impressive form with the boot, added then seventh try himself before McColl kicked ahead at the death for his second.