Trailfinders wear down injury-hit Doncaster
EALING took full advantage of Doncaster’s injury crisis by beating the struggling Yorkshire team at Castle Park by three tries to nil in an effective performance that achieved their fourth league win in six matches.
Doncaster, missing eleven regular players through injury and one because of suspension, competed vigorously for long periods but couldn’t break through.
However, considering how understrength they currently are, it is to their credit they were by no means a pushover against opponents who were forced to battle relentlessly for their deserved victory.
While Doncaster, who’ve won only two Championship games, have dropped towards the bottom of the table, Ealing are prospering at the top end, and the manner in which they scored tries by forwards Andrew Durutalo, Will Davis and Rayn Smid illustrated the benefits of possessing a pack that creates and takes their scoring opportunities.
Yellow cards against centre Lewis Jones on 31 mins for foul play and then against replacement Harris Casson (foul play) at the climax had no significant effects on the outcome.
The Knights, following three penalties from flyhalf Sam Olver on 21, 36 and 40 minutes, were still in contention at half-time when they were behind by only 10-9, but in the second half, Ealing’s pack controlled possession and territory and, therefore, were able to add to the try on 37 minutes by flanker Durutalo, driven over from a line out.
Prop Davis crashed over in the 58th after Doncaster were penalised near their posts, and just before full time, Ealing’s powerful pack capitalised following another infringement.
On this occasion, the
London side tapped the penalty which resulted in No.8 Smid barging across Doncaster’s line to stretch the lead to 22-9.
With fly-half Craig Willis continuing his accuracy, adding to his penalty and two earlier conversions, Ealing’s winning score of 24-9 satisfied coach Ben Ward.
“I’m delighted to get four
points in wet conditions. I thought our pack worked really hard.
“Jordy Reid and Durutalo did well in the forwards as did Sam Dickinson who was very physical during the 50 or so minutes he was on.
“I was also pleased with the performance of our replacement scrum-half, Nathan Fowles, who made an impact in the right areas. But we gave away a lot of penalties. Still, the lineout was good and our mauling is getting better.”
As the Doncaster area knows full well, it never rains but pours in South Yorkshire, and the same misfortune applies to the rugby team which suffered another potential serious set-back against Ealing.
Prop Robin Hislop, one of their most experienced campaigners, suffered a head injury in the first half and is certain to be added to the long injury list.
“We’ll come through the crisis once we get 50 per cent of our injured players back,” said coach Clive Griffiths. “We kept fighting to the end and if you have that fight, you’ll survive.”