‘That was not us out there’
TRAILFINDERS BOSS DISAPPOINTED WITH OPENING DAY DEFEAT
BEN WARD reckoned “it wasn’t us out there” as his Ealing Trailfinders suffered a body blow on the opening day of the Championship season as they fell 30-10 to Cornish Pirates at Mennaye Field.
The west Londoners were uncharacteristically lethargic throughout and failed to live up to their previous performances in the Championship Cup, being beaten by a dominant Pirates side who never looked like surrendering their lead.
Director of rugby Ward was disappointed with the manner of the defeat and said his side need a big response this weekend against Jersey.
“We weren’t ourselves and didn’t show all of the hard work that we have put in during the last few months,” he said.
“We let our supporters down. We didn’t have energy around the pitch, which wasn’t good enough. We have been building for a cup campaign and a league campaign and we have started the cup very well, but this wasn’t us.
“There’s nothing we can do about it now. It wasn’t what we wanted, but ultimately you have to respond in the best way possible.
“It’s hard to put my finger on the performance. It’s not what we’ve produced in games and in training so far. We weren’t where we needed to be and against a good side you are going to get punished.”
The hosts started strongly and took the lead inside the first 10 minutes with a try from Maliq Holden.
A penalty from Javier Rojas Alvarez came back off the post, but after the ball was cleared it fell into the hands of Fa’atiga Lemalu who smashed his way through the defence and he had Holden on his shoulder, who had a clear run to the line.
Their fast start continued with another try just four minutes later to the delight of the home supporters.
On the counter attack they grubbered the ball through and it bounced up perfectly for Nicolas De Battista who dotted the ball down.
Alvarez’s conversion put his side 12-0 in front after just 12 minutes.
Trailfinders then created a number of chances as they looked to get back in to the match, but they lacked the finishing prowess, which is normally so firmly associated with them, and the opportunities were missed.
Trailfinders’ only points came from a David Johnston penalty from 40 metres in the first half and a sensational individual try from scrumhalf Jordan Burns in the second, but it just was not enough.