Bridge too far for Richmond as Trailfinders play it tough

EALING Trailfinders stayed in the play-off race after a four-try victory over their rivals from across Kew Bridge.

There was little neighbourly love on show in a fierce London derby with both sides hammering into each other for the entire 80 minutes.

Richmond were certainly in the mood, but too often tiny mistakes checked their progress.

They also came up against an Ealing line-up, well-drilled by Llewellyn Jones and Barney Maddison, which denied them a steady supply of ball.

Richmond at least went home with a losing bonus point after Rob Kirby kicked a last-gasp penalty that brings them closer to Rotherham at the bottom of the table.

Ealing rugby director Ben Ward said: “We’ll take the five points and move on but we know we have to play better next week against Bedford.

“We’ve plenty to work on in training and we will need to have a better structure next time.”

Kirby started the scoring with a penalty seven minutes in, but Ealing hit back quickly when James Cordy-Redden plucked Aaron Penberthy’s cross-kick out of the air and raced away to touch down in the corner.

The pair nearly repeated the trick a few minutes later, but it was Ealing’s other wing Miles Mantella who extended the advantage.

After the Ealing pack piled pressure on the Richmond line the ball went wide and centre Joe Munro set Mantella free to score his first since he joined from London Welsh in December.

Cordy-Redden scored his second just before the half-hour mark and it appeared that they were set fair for a comfortable victory before Jack Allcock was driven over on the stroke of half-time for Richmond.

They maintained their intensity after the break, but Mantella’s second stretched Ealing’s lead before tighthead prop Rupert Harden barged over to bring Richmond into bonus point territory.

Penberthy’s penalty with five minutes to go appeared to have sent Richmond home emptyhanded, before Kirby landed one of his own.

Richmond captain Will Warden said: “There were some physical hits. Credit to Ealing, they’re one of the best teams we’ve played and their defence is rock solid, but we’ve come on leaps and bounds since the last time we met them.”