REPORT: Ealing 130 – 14 Hinckley

 

Ealing showed no mercy to Hinckley RFC when they arrived at Vallis Way for their first visit to the league leaders West London ground.

On a dry day, the first for many weeks Ealing clocked up 20 tries with centre Ronnie McLean- Dents and Phil Chesters bagging 4 and Owen Bruynseels scoring a hat trick of his own in an utterly ruthless display of running rugby against what was a limited Hinckley side

Ealing opened the scoring within the first minute when straight from the kick off, Owen Bruynseels found Pete Hodgkinson and the Ealing centre went over for the first of the afternoon. This coming week the Ealing centre, will be on Ealing Counties duties when the squad fly to Ireland to face Irish Clubs at Old Belvedere RFC in Dublin on Friday. The club wish him well on his travels.

The game was never in doubt from the first whistle as Ealing’s forwards running at a fragile Hinckley side from depth a rout was on the cards from that first try by Hodgkinson. Matt Evans and Anders Nilsson were making havoc in the wide spaces at Vallis Way and the scoreboard continued to roll over at a rate of knots, with tries from Neil Hallett ( 4 minutes) Chesters ( 6m 19 m) , Karl Gibson (13,37) McLean Dents ( 15) , Nilsson ( 26) , Morgan Thompson (35) and Matt Evans (40) as Ealing went into half time 62-14 ahead.

Being critical of a 48 point half time lead, Mike Cudmore said "We went in at half time with a healthy lead but were disappointed with some of our delivery areas. " , but added , " We addressed this in the second half and the bench also made a big impact"

Looking to give the bench a run out , Ealing rang the changes during the first period of the second half, Ben Griffiths replacing Blair Morris who had been outstanding all afternoon, Joe Price replaced Neil Hallett with Hodgkinson slipping into the full back shirt, Ryan Gregory came on for Jack Fishwick, whilst Matt Newman replaced Lewis Brown.

The changes added an extra impetus to Ealing as the tries continued to flow. Owen Bruynseels crossed for the first of the second half on 49 minutes, then the gates opened as the Ealing backs revelled in the time and space they had on the ball. Nine more tires were scored . Owen Bruynseels ( 49 minutes, 76 and 78) , Ronnie McLean Dents ( 51 & 56) Joe Price ( 56) , Pete Hodgkinson (62) and finally Phil Chesters (74 and 80 minutes).

Ealing will know that tougher fixture will be around the corner and stand between them and a league title chance. Jersey will play their game in hand this weekend when they visit Worthing. A good win will leave them only 2 points behind Ealing, and Mike Cudmore is aware the teams destiny is in their own hands. He said " Every game from now until the end of the season is a cup final. We all know what is required and as we have all season, we will go game by game. We will look to keep improving as a team and in doing so strive to produce the outcome we all want . "

One of Ealing’s 4 try hero’s Ronnie McLean Dents said after the game, "I thought the boys were pretty clinical throughout the game, great support and composure lead to us scoring some well finished tries.For the rest of the season we are taking each game as it comes and preparing the same like any other."

For photos see : https://www.ealingrugby.co.uk/index.php?option=com_simgallery&Itemid=188&func=viewalbum&aid=210. Our thanks to Loretta Thompson for these wonderful photos.

Ealing are having a weekend off this week, and return to league action on the 26th March with a visit to Shelford RFC

Ealing Trailfinders :
15 – Neil Hallett, 14 – Owen Bruynseels , 13 – Pete Hodgkinson , 12 – ,Ronald McLean-Dents 11 – Phil Chesters, 10 – Ben Ward (C) , 9 – Morgan Thompson
8 – Anders Nilsson, 7 – Karl Gibson , 6 – Blair Morris , 5 – Matt Evans , 4 – Jack Fishwick , 3 – Steve Neville, 2 – Jon Moyce , 1 – Lewis Brown , 16 – Matt Newman, 17 – Sungo Kuwana, 18 – Jack Fishwick, 19 – Ben Griffiths 20 – Joe Price