Trailfinders withstand Reds’ late onslaught

TRAILFINDERS turned up the heat with a 25-point burst either side of halftime that set up a bonus point win on their Channel Island outing.

The visitors built enough of a lead to withstand a spirited Jersey comeback and complete a seventh win in eight Championship matches against the Reds.

Head coach Alex Codling was pleased with the reaction from his players after a narrow defeat to league leaders Bristol in their previous outing.

“The stats show that when you have a tough encounter against Bristol, especially with a six day turn-around, it’s tough to get back up for your next game, so to get five points from a tough away trip is a great effort,” he said.

“Jersey were strong in the last quarter, but we had got points on the board.”

After Brendan Cope missed an early chance of three points for the hosts, Ealing kicked their opening penalties to the corner and engineered a mauled try for James Gibbons, only for the Reds to respond in kind courtesy of hooker Jack Macfarlane.

There was little to choose between the sides at the half-hour mark but then Trailfinders struck twice before the break courtesy of two pinpoint kicks by ex-Jersey fly-half Aaron Penberthy to his wingers, with both Will Harries and James CordyRedden outjumping their opponents to score.

Although Seb NagleTaylor finished another Jersey maul soon after the break, Ealing added another 11 points to their tally courtesy of two Pete Lydon penalties and a try from Luke Carter’s quick-fire break up the middle having seized a loose ball.

The Reds claimed two tries in the final quarter to pick up a losing bonus point, thanks to Macfarlane and then Tom Pincus crossing after good approach work by Jerry Sexton. Olly Bryant could have secured a second point with a tricky conversion, but Ealing were left to see out the game in relative ease.

Head coach Harvey Biljon took some comfort in defeat but admitted there was also frustration in the home dressing room.

“We said this match would be a gauge as to how far come we’d come since losing heavily (31-8) to Ealing in October, and by that account it was pleasing,” he said.

“But there’s frustration that we scored four great tries and then conceded several scores through errors. We missed three shots at goal and were second best under the high ball which is disappointing.”