Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV v Rosslyn Park 31st October

So is this a make or break game for both teams season?

 In all honesty I doubt it, although it will be good to leave The Rock with the bragging rights against our close rivals Rosslyn Park FC.

Park have started the season well – currently they sit in 3rd position on on 25 points, on  number of games won, ahead of west country side Clifton. Of the 7 games they have played they have won 5 , 3 at home and drawn 1 whilst their sole loss has been against – Barking ! A similar thread there?

Fly half Ross Laidlaw is their top scorer with 91 points, including that precious try at Dings last weekend, whilst wing James Strong is their top try scorer with 5 followed by second row Adam Gates with 4.

So what of Rossyln Park – Who are they and what are they about?

Well like Ealing , they are known as a Football Club. Both our’s and their history dates back to pre RFU days: 

"The club was founded in 1879 when a group of young cricketers decided to form a football club in order to stay together during the winter months. They had originally played their scratch games of cricket in the grounds of Rosslyn House, part of the Rosslyn Park Estate and had therefore taken the name “Rosslyn Park” for their cricket club. When they formed their rugby club they took the same name. Some histories have tried to link the club with the Earls of Rosslyn. Whilst Baron Loughborough, the first Earl of Rosslyn once lived at Rosslyn House, its name was only changed from ‘Shelford Lodge ‘ to ‘Rosslyn House’ after his death. And in any case he died more than 60 years before the club was formed! Neither the football club, nor the cricket club once formed, ever played at Rosslyn Park." 

Indeed they are been up and down the leagues. Playing as high as National 1 (before the many reorganisations). They entered N3S three seasons ago and have been one of the front running clubs. They always maintained an amateur ethos, but they have gone down a new path in recent seasons and have bought in Ex England international Stuart Abbott and Ex London Welsh back row Florent Rossigneux  as back up to DoR Shaun Justice. 

Park made a big statement of intent this year with a new sponsorship agreement with Areana Events Group, they made it know that promotion was a real aim for this season. We will see some familiar faces there as well, with Ex Ealing number 8 Mark Lock now in their ranks, and for those with a really good memory , scrum half Graham Barr!

They are well known to us as a club with a very good mini’s & youth setup, I am sure many of you have spent many morning’s  in Richmond Park, wonderful in late September, not so great in January.

Previous games between Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV & Rosslyn Park FC

As can be seen we have had some tight games, 11 points being the biggest winning margin. Games have tended to go with the home team – Let’s hope it changes this weekend! 

06/10/07 Rosslyn Park 21 Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV 10

09/02/08 Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV 26 Rosslyn Park 20

06/09/08  Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV 19 Rosslyn Park 8

18/04/09 Rosslyn Park 26 Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV 21