Burns lights touchpaper for Ealing’s late surge
A BEAUTIFUL sidestep to take out two defenders and a 30metre run-in by Ealing replacement Jordan Burns for the try bonus-point rounded off a hard-earned win.
Three tries during a late ten-minute spell while Richmond were down to 14 men enabled the away side to squeeze out a well fought game after losing at home to Jersey last week.
Scrum-half Burns said: “In the first-half they put a lot of pressure on us and we didn’t convert our chances. In the second-half we knew we had to use the wind to our advantage.
“We spoke about putting them in their corner and knew we could put pressure on them in the set piece. Holes opened up towards the end, we put on more tempo and it prevailed.”
Ealing coach Ben Ward added: “Richmond defended well but we wore them down and won ugly.”
Ealing wasted no time after Richmond lost a lineout to go deep into the home side’s 22 and drive over the whitewash from their own 5m lineout with hooker Alun Walker dotting down.
After winning two penalties at the breakdown, Richmond put together three phases from a 5m lineout with centre Ronnie McLean-Dents driving over in the corner.
The home side were pinned deep in their own 22 for the rest of the half as Ealing looked as if they were enjoying an opposed training session.
They kicked to the corner seven times but were unable to convert their dominance into points due to errors at the breakdown and shrewd Richmond defence.
Trailfinders came out with more tenacity after the break and, three phases on from a line-out, fly-half Lawrence May scored by the right post.
The home side, despite being unable to utilise their attacking line-out due to Ealing lock Ben West’s powers of anticipation, stayed in the game until replacement prop Nathaniel Opedo was sinbinned for tackling a player off the ball.
Trailfinders immediately scored from a powerful catch-and-drive, with replacement Jordan Els dotting down.
A running offload from wing Howard Packman opened up space for Burns who got away from Richmond’s covering Jono Woodward and sidestepped full-back Jordan Simpson-Hefft to score in between the posts.
After a 75th-minute grubber kick by May to the home side’s 5m line, Trailfinders’ Walker – who had ran the line-out superbly – then slipped the ball from the maul to wing Will Harries who dinked past Richmond’s Toby Saysell to dive over and round out the win.
Richmond coach Steve Hill said: “We were pleased with the first 55 minutes, we soaked up a lot of pressure and created some good chances while holding them to one score in the first half which is rare for Ealing.
“Unfortunately in the last 20 minutes we gave away penalties to put them in good field positions.
“The yellow card was very harsh and, crucially, proved to be the turning point.”