Ward delight as Ealing cut loose to sink Pirates

A WILL Davis brace helped Ealing to a dominant eight-try victory over Cornish Pirates at Trailfinders Sports Club.

Ealing led 24-12 at the break and then put Pirates to the sword in the second half.

Victorious director of rugby Ben Ward said: “Off the back of a tight game at half-time, it was great to cut loose in that second 40.

“It was great for the forwards to give us such a strong platform, which then meant our backs were able score some of those tries out wide.”

The Green and Whites took no time to fire into action, with Ollie Newman bursting through the Pirates defence to score unopposed after three minutes.

Three minutes after that, a silky first phase move almost saw Cian Kelleher go over in the corner, but the ball was quickly recycled and shifted to the far side allowing Alun Walker to crash over.

Then, with Pirates’ first attack of the game, Robin Wedlake went on a mazy run and managed to score in the far corner.

Ealing answered straight back just before the 20 minute mark, as Davis was able to bundle over from close range after several effective pick and go phases from the forwards.

Pirates then got their second of the match after AJ Cant burst through the line and found Arthur Relton to allow the winger to make it 19-12.

It appeared that the scoring was done for the first half, but, with the clock in the red, Pirates captain Rory Part was sent to the bin. Then off the following scrum, Harvey Beaton was also sent to the bin for repeated

scrum penalties. Now being down to 13 men, Trailfinders swung the ball wide and Kelleher ran in unopposed.

In the second half, it took the hosts only three minutes for Davis to grab his second, again bundling over from close range. Then, just after the 50-minute mark, a free-flowing move was finished off by Dan Lancaster putting in a grubber kick which allowed Pat Howard to dot down.

After a scrappy 20 minutes which followed this, Trailfinders were able to regroup as they made their way into the Pirates 22. A great line from James Cordy-Redden allowed the winger to bundle over for his sixth try of the month.

The final try of the day was potentially the best, as Ealing went the length of the pitch for Max Bodilly to secure the eighth try.