REPORT: Ealing Trailfinders 6 – 39 London Welsh

After three weeks without a match, Ealing Trailfinders were unable to close the gap to Jersey at the bottom of the Greene King IPA Championship after London Welsh underlined their credentials for a swift return to the Aviva Premiership.

Ben Ward gave Ealing an early 6-0 lead with two penalties, but the Exiles shook off their lethargy at the end of the first half to take the lead and then stretch it emphatically in the second half.

London Welsh kicked off but it was Ealing who enjoyed the opening 10 minutes and after good work in attack and defence by Trailfinders flanker Ed Siggery, Ward kicked the opening points with a penalty.

The Exiles flexed their muscles after the re-start and after a line-break by scrum-half Rob Lewis, centre James Ticknell took the attack on and offloaded to Tom May, but Siggery worked back in defence to stop Welsh’s captain with the line at his mercy and from the scrum Ward cleared the danger.

Flanker Mitch Lees then broke the line soon after, but this time Morgan Thompson and Ronnie McLean combined to work the ball clear.

Eventually fly-half Will Robinson had the chance to draw the Exiles level, but he dragged his penalty attempt wide.

Ealing continued to show no fear against their more illustrious opponents as Wardingley showed when he ran the ball out from deep to relieve the pressure and then from a TJ Anderson line-out take Pete Browne failed to roll away from a tackle and Ward kicked his second penalty.

Soon after Robinson opened the scoring for the Exiles and after then with the final attack of the half Pete Browne was driven over for a try that Robinson converted for a lead of 13-6 at the break.

The Exiles repeated the trick early in the second half and this time it was hooker Nathan Vella who profited.

Minutes later wing Seb Stegmann ran in a third try after a kick and chase and his opposite Nick Scott then stretched his legs to break the line and secure bonus point.

With Ealing chasing the game the Exiles captain May took advantage of the broken field to find a gap and race home and while Ealing ended on the attack they were unable to find a way through the Exiles defence.

Ealing are next in action on Sunday 9 March, away to London Scottish at The Athletic Ground, with kick-off at 12.30.

Ealing Trailfinders
Andrew Henderson, Sam Wardingley, Ronnie Mclean, Tom Bedford, Phil Chesters
Ben Ward, Morgan Thompson; Ryan Storer, Andrei Radoi, Conor Carey, Steve Pape
George Merrick, TJ Anderson, Ed Siggery, Mat Evans (captain)
Reserves
Richard Townsend, Steve Neville, Jordan Saunders, Dan Collier, Sam Hocking, Tom Parker, Tom Wheatcroft
London Welsh
Seb Jewell, Seb Stegmann, Tom May (captain), James Tincknell, Nick Scott, Will Robinson, Rob Lewis; Tom Bristow, Nathan Vella, James Tideswell, Ben West, Pete Browne, Mitch Lees, Carl Kirwan, Richard Thorpe
Reserves:
Nathan Morris, Alec Hepburn, Peter Edwards, Dan Browne, Rory Pitman, Alex Davies, Toby L’Estrange

STORM Watches Man of the Match – Ben Ward
Attendance – 1,571
Referee – Andrew Jackson