Jones at double for Ealing’s hit men
LEWIS Jones celebrated his first start of the season with a trydouble as rampant Ealing humiliated Doncaster in a scintillating eight-try show.
With their impressive forwards laying a solid foundation, Ealing’s backs were given licence to thrill as they recovered from last week’s loss at Nottingham.
Former Northampton academy man Jones was at the heart of this victory, linking superbly with midfield partner Joe Munro as Donny were swamped.
Jones said: “There was a lot of anger after Nottingham so to bounce back and win like that was testament to the boys; it was a complete performance and the next step is to be that ruthless every week.
“Our forwards were exceptional in giving our nine and ten the platform to play off and it made our jobs a lot easier outside.”
Luke Daniels slotted Ealing ahead after Jason Hill went in at the side. However, the lead was short-lived as Rory Clegg’s loose pass was gathered by Declan Cusack before Cam Cowell grubbered for Charlie Foley to pounce.
Ealing’s pack got to work, forcing a scrum penalty. Doncaster repelled the resultant lineout drive but at the cost of another penalty and, after Barney Maddison took a spectacular one-handed catch, hooker Alun Walker finished the job.
Ealing’s set-piece was in fine order and on 17 minutes they bagged their second. Harry Casson collected the lineout before sharp interplay between Luke Carter and Clegg enabled Kieran Murphy to roar in from 30 metres.
Doncaster’s grim afternoon worsened when James Cordy-Redden sauntered over after good work from Jones and Rayn Smid. And they almost had a fourth when Clegg intercepted Carter, but Cowell raced back to tackle.
Ealing were not to be denied, though, as Clegg took the ball to the line before cleverly working Jones under the posts, with Daniels notching his fourth conversion for a commanding 31-7 half-time lead.
After Ealing restarted
strongly, two big carries from No.8 Hill put Doncaster on the front foot, only for disaster to strike as Ealing snaffled possession and Cordy-Redden sent Jones in from 35-metres.
With Hill fighting gallantly, Doncaster enjoyed their best passage of play. Resolute Ealing defence eventually forced the turnover, though, and when Munro’s sumptuous cut-out pass found Murphy, he set up Smid’s finish.
Ealing again turned on the forward power, earning successive scrum penalties. For once nothing came of them and Doncaster made the most of their reprieve when Cowell finished sharply from Michael Heaney’s inside pass.
That merely spurred Ealing into action again and after Matt Cornish had rumbled over from turnover ball in midfield, Doncaster’s scrum was destroyed once again, enabling the ball to be switched right for Smid to complete the rout.
Donny boss Clive Griffiths said: “Eyebrows will be raised at this result and we were taken to the cleaners. If we don’t sort it out against Bristol next week, it’ll be a cricket score.”