Ringfence? Think again!
EALING Trailfinders beat Saracens 27-26 in a blood and guts clash yesterday to underline their argument that ambitious Championship clubs should be allowed their chance of reaching the Premiership.
“It’s what we are striving for,” said happy Ealing DoR Ben Ward.
EALING underlined their credentials as potent challengers for the Championship crown whenever the competition resumes with this thrilling victory over Saracens.
The great three-times European champions may not have fielded anything like their strongest team, and England star No.8 Billy Vunipola plodded around Trailfinders Sports Ground with little of his customary power.
But Ealing director of rugby Ben Ward, who had seen his side beat Newcastle Falcons in a friendly on the same ground in November, was rightfully delighted as he said:
“The wins against these Premiership clubs mean an awful lot because that’s what we’re striving for. We want to be playing consistently at their level. We have to be ruthless in our analysis.”
Talk of ring-fencing the Premiership to exclude ambitious Championship clubs is rife and Ward and his green and white warriors made sure they sent out a different message in this first match of the Trailfinders Challenge Cup which also includes Doncaster Knights.
In truth, the contest was not a thing of beauty. A combined 25 penalties meant that momentum was often stifled as both sets of half-backs were committed to a barrage of aerial kicks and the forwards busied themselves with a slew of arm wrestles.
But the passion and endeavour was evident throughout.
A penalty each preceded a ninth minute try from Ealing winger Angus Kernohan who capped off a move that began with a lineout.
Hooker Alun Walker’s contribution of two tries was crucial to the Ealing victory, but his accuracy from the touchline – finding his jumper with 13 from 14 attempts – was integral to his side’s control of territory and possession.
The score read 13-9 in favour of Ealing when Elliot Obatoyinbo slid under a challenge to score Saracens’ first five pointer five minutes from the break and, as the teams trudged off for a breather, there was a sense that Ealing had missed their shot.
But they came roaring out for the second half.
Captain and No.8 Rayn Smid was a colossus in the collision and outshone Vunipola, who was short of his usual standards.
Walker’s first try came from a driving maul, including the assistance of a few backs on 53 minutes. Craig Willis’ conversion gave Ealing a deserved lead.
That appeared to galvanise the rusty Saracens machine. The half-time introduction of Callum Hunter-Hill was yielding fruit as the rangy Scot injected gain-line wins into Saracens’ attack.
Momentum appeared to shift when substitute hooker Kapeli Pifeleti gave
Ealing a taste of their own medicine by finding a jumper and then rounding off a driving maul.
That brought Saracens within a point at 20-19 with 13 minutes to go. But Will Hooley’s second failed conversion would cost his team.
With the chance of a famous win slipping from their grasp, Ealing returned to what had worked early in the piece. Craig Hampson was near flawless with his box-kicks and new recruit Bobby de Wee was a nuisance in the lineout.
Persistent pressure saw Saracens’ Sam Wainwright receive a yellow card and Walker’s try from a maul closed the game with five minutes to spare.
Saracens bagged a consolation try in the final minute from captain Tom Woolstencroft, as Ealing lost full-back David Johnston to the sin-bin for slowing play, but left with just the losing bonus point.