Academy win secures National Colts Cup Quarter Final spot

Buckingham U18 v Ealing Trailfinders Academy won 37-14

A fantastic welcome from our hosts awaited the Academy players and travelling support, Coffee AND Bacon rolls!!!

A lovely fine still day after so much rain made the decision to rearrange a good one, both teams looked set to give their all.

It was the young Trailfinders who started the brightest, moving the point of attack and challenging the strong Buckingham defensive line, strong tackling prevented success but it was when the ball was moved to the wide channels that Ealing looked strongest. Winger Rasaan Samms was the first to score with a typically powerful run. More pressure and high tempo rugby saw a penalty conceded and converted by Dan Clarke. Top try scorer Louis Walker was next to score with a fine try, winger Samms made another break, supported by Will Alton who linked with Walker coming off his own wing to score in the corner.

Buckingham played some great rugby to open their account, surging forward and offloading well. It was Ealing who finished the scoring for the first half with Walker dotting down again to take the West London side to an 18-7 lead.

The second half saw Buckingham in determined mood, and a dominant period really tested the Ealing defence, long pressure saw the home sides score a great try, applauded by all. Worried frowns on the side line showed that it was a pivotal time in the match.

Fortunately it was Trailfinders who rose highest to the challenge and a fantastic show of strength and no little skill saw a strong last 20 mins rewarded with 3 tries by impressive flanker Will Alton, winger Shehabi and returning fly half Yun Shun Luk. Scrum half George Hawkins was at the centre of all that was good about us, a great all round game, well played.

The score line may not have given Buckingham the credit they deserved but was also not flattering to Ealing. i’m sure all who watched would say that it was a fine example of age group rugby. Some things need to be improved, so lots to work on.

Next week sees us travel away again to Old Elthamians, a National Quarter Final against an impressive team, sure to be our toughest game of the season so far.

Your support would be most welcome, it means a lot to the players.

See you at training!!

Ealing Trailfinders Academy

Steadman, Samms, Clarke, Day (c), Walker, Luk, Hawkins, Lowe, Leonard-Fox, Alton, Avis, Wake, Nash, Hitchcock, Wells

Replacements

Czop, Joyce, Ajuchi, Shehabi, Cordell, Hissey

Scorers

Tries – Walker 2, Samms, Luk, Alton, Shehabi

Cons – Clarke, Hawkins

Pens – Clarke