Far from pretty, but Ealing pick up first win

EALING Trailfinders earned their first win of the season and inflicted Jersey Reds’ first defeat after a mostly dour 80 minutes that turned on two moments in the dying minutes of the match.

First James Cordy-Redden illuminated the gloom with a run from right to left that ended with him giving Ealing the lead.

Then with Jersey desperately chasing a draw the ball was fired wide to Ross Adair, but he knocked on to bring an end to proceedings.

“We were disappointed last week to only give up a leading position against Cornish Pirates,” Ealing’s director of rugby Ben Ward said. “We have spoken all week about playing winning rugby rather than pretty rugby.

“We have plenty to work on, but we are very pleased to have our first win and to show we can win ugly.”

Ealing took the lead early on with Ward’s first penalty after the fly-half had sent up a hanging kick that resulted in Willie Ryan being held up over the line.

Jersey twice had their rolling maul held up and the match then descended into their pack trying to drive Ealing’s over from a scrum, but the hosts pack stood firm and Ward cleared the danger to free the crowd from its slumber.

Defences stayed firmly on top and subtlety was conspicuous by its absence, apart from the old dart from Ealing captain Mark Bright.

Eventually the match developed some rhythm and from another penalty Ward doubled his side’s lead just before half-time.

Jersey turned the tables early in the second half when Adair found a gap in midfield to go over and Jack Cuthbert was then released down the wing to stretch their lead further.

As the match moved past the hour Joe Munro crashed over to reclaim the lad, but Cope’s penalty put the visitors back in front.

Cordy-Redden mixed pace and power to go over and as Jersey came roaring back Adair looped round off the left wing, but the pass was slightly high and with the knockon came the final whistle.

“It was a scrappy game,” Jersey coach Alex Rae said. “Both teams had a lot of huff and puff with no much end product. It got a bit exciting at the end and I thought we were in in the corner.

“We’re pretty disappointed, but it was stop start and it seemed that there was a lot of setpieces and penalties.”