Ealing smash big six to keep destiny in their own hands

EALING kept the heat on leaders Doncaster with a bonus point win – but it will not be a match that lives long in the memory.

Ealing DoR Ben Ward offered a warning to his team for their final two fixtures.

Ward praised star player Max NorthcoteGreen Ward for his “outstanding performance and work rate” both in the tight and the loose and added: “We cannot get ahead of ourselves, which we have been guilty of a few times this season.

“We have two matches left, win those and we win the league.”

The visitors made the most of the blustery conditions, asserting territory early and working Ampthill’s defence, and it was not long until Angus Kernohan found himself unopposed on the wing to score the opening try after just four minutes.

The first half was a rather turgid affair, but the benefit of the doubt can be given to the players, with winds reaching 30mph at Dillingham Park. Ealing doubled their lead on 22 minutes, courtesy of a penalty try as Ampthill’s Jac Arthur collapsed a maul on the try line, and was subsequently yellow carded.

The hosts finally put themselves on the board just before the break. After their pack surged forward from a rolling maul, hooker Theo Dan crashed over for the try, closing the gap to nine points at the half.

Ealing were always going to be favourites in the second half, playing downhill and downwind, and they took advantage immediately. Flanker Simon Uzokwe powered through a couple of tackles to go under the posts.

With Ealing continuing to press, No.8 Rayn Smid found himself out wide and was able to evade a tackle and go over the whitewash.

Minutes later, Kernohan secured his brace, with a try that mirrored his first. Craig Willis was somehow managing to score all his conversions despite the ongoing gales, giving the away side a 30 point lead as the match entered its final stages.

Not even a man advantage – following Ealing replacement Jack Digby being sent to the bin for a no-arms high tackle – could see Ampthill add to their point tally and substitute kicker Stephen Shingler finished the scoring with a penalty for Ealing.