Ealing bag an early bonus to set up Jersey decider
EALING recorded their third consecutive Championship Cup win with a five-try job on Scottish.
Ealing director of rugby Ben Ward was impressed with his side’s defensive display as they set up a pool decider in Jersey next weekend.
Ward said: “We started strongly and we are pleased with our performance, particularly the defence.
“Credit to Scottish they didn’t lie down and it was a good win for us to build towards Jersey next week.”
Scottish started strongly and scored the first points of the afternoon courtesy of a Jacob Perry penalty from 30 metres, but from there the Trailfinders dominated the first half as they built a convincing lead.
A spell of three tries in ten minutes saw them take control of the match, with the first coming from Alun Walker who extended his try-scoring run. The ball went loose from a lineout and some great hands in the middle set up an overlap on the right wing which allowed the hooker a clear run to the line.
Just three minutes later the ball was kicked to the corner and the hosts went through the hands to find Will Harries in the corner who dived over the line unattended.
Jordan Burns then extended the lead after the scrum-half capitalised on a strong run from Rayn Smid to gather the flanker’s offload and race to the line, while Josh Barton was sent to the sin bin in the process for a high tackle.
Trailfinders secured the try bonus point before the break going 22-3 up after Jordan Els touched down from the back off a powerful 20m driving maul in the closing stages of the half to mark his first start for the club.
With Scottish prop Dino Waldren in the bin for scrum infringements, Jordan Burns got the hosts’ fifth try on 50 minutes as once more he was the beneficiary of an impressive offload from Harry Sloan, who smashed his way over the gain line to release the scrum-half to run in.
The Scots then took control in the final quarter as a late rally saw them score twice in the last 20 minutes.
Ealing saw Jordy Reid and Ben West both binned for killing the ball but it did not stop Jordan Brodley mauling over the line on the hour mark, followed by Josh Barton who dummied from the base of a scrum with five minutes left to give Dave Morris’ men two deserved late scores.
Scottish No.8 Mark Bright said: “We stuck in there and can take plenty of positives, particularly from the second half and we’ll have a big week to prepare for another huge derby against Richmond.”