Ealing bag early bonus but Students prove mettle
EALING rebounded from their shock defeat at Doncaster by running in eight tries against a game Hartpury outfit.
Head coach Alex Codling said: “We’ve rightfully finished second in the league and we have pushed Bristol a long way but ultimately came up a little short. Today you saw some of the ambition of the side as we scored some lovely tries.”
Ealing’s rip-roaring start saw them lead 26-0 after 15 minutes, with irrepressible hooker, Alun Walker, sounding the charge from the catch and drive.
The alert Rayn Smid pounced for the second score by intercepting a telegraphed Hartpury pass, before MOM James Cordy-Redden finished off the try of the game after the hosts opened up from their own line.
Pacey full-back Luke Daniels also got in on the act as he proved the chief beneficiary of Shane O’Leary’s deliciously weighted cross-field kick.
The fourth try stung Hartpury into action as they enjoyed their best spell either side of halftime with prop Ciaran Knight forcing his way over, before Ealing’s pack got down to business and earned a penalty try.
Again, Hartpury responded with Alexander Craig doing some sterling work off an attacking lineout after Ealing had a man sinbinned, although at 33-17 down they were still chasing the game.
The state of numerical inferiority clearly threw Ealing off balance for a while, and further tries from Craig, following some delicious link-play, and William Tanner from the catch and drive, threatened an upset as Hartpury moved to within four points.
However, Ealing are made of stern stuff and, after camping on the Hartpury line, they successfully forced the issue from the 5m scrum, with Ollie Stedman grabbing his first try for the club.
Prop Lewis Thiede also enjoyed his moment in the sun by successfully probing the blindside, before the prolific Walker capitalised on a loose lineout to claim his 15th try of the season.
Hartpury, fully deserving of a losing bonus point, mounted a late rally with the excellent James Williams winning the race for his side’s fifth try.
Hartpury coach Mark Cornwell said: “This season has been a big learning curve for us. I would certainly have taken the losing bonus point before the game.”