No title but Ealing back in winners’ enclosure
EALING, the defending champions, may not have retained their title, but they finished the league season with a convincing display at Castle Park where they beat Doncaster by five tries to two in a competitive contest.
The two clubs meet again on Saturday in a semi-final of the Championship Cup at Vallis Way and Ealing are well aware that the Yorkshire club, who rested 10 players for the league match, will be back to full strength.
Having said that, Ealing were stretched in the first half following tries by Doncaster wingers Robbie Smith and George Simpson, but in the second, the London side scored three more tries to the ones earlier by winger Luke Daniels and replacement lock Bobby de Wee.
Indeed, after the interval in a powerful and dominating performance in which they controlled ball and territory, almost entirely, De Wee added his second, centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch shot over for the fourth and replacement prop Will Davis barged across the line for Ealing’s fifth and a lead of 33-14.
Ben Ward, Ealing’s director of rugby, was hoping that Ampthill would produce a major upset against Jersey Reds, but knew that miracles rarely happen: “After the disappointment of last week when Jersey beat us, and to be fair to them they fully deserve the plaudits they’re going to get, I’m really pleased with how we did at Doncaster.
“It was a battle in the first half and then we took more control. I thought Dave O’Connor and Simon Uzokwe in the pack were really good.
“This is such a tough league. Last year it was us and Doncaster, this season 12 Penalties conceded 10 8 Lineouts won 13 3 Lineouts lost 2 8 Scrums won 3 1 Scrums lost 0 1 Sin bin 1
Holden 7, Simpson 7, Davey 7, Lloyd-Seed 7, Smith 7, McBryde 7 (Parkin 74, 5), Yarnell 7; Owen 7 (Pope 50, 6), Holling 7, Armstrong 7 (Garside 54,
6), Mintern 7 (Roberts 65, 6), Murphy 7 (Kelly 55, 6), Sigren 7, Daly 7 (Cardew 40, 7), T Smith (c) 7
Kelleher 8, Daniels 8, Bodilly 8 (Shingler 71, 7), Bird-Tulloch 8, Earle 8, Lancaster 8, Hampson 8 (Burns 65, 7); Gibbons 7 (Davis 46, 7), Malton 6 (Terry 65, 7), Lewis 7 (Roots 53, 7), O’Connor 8, Davidson (c) 6 (De Wee 31, 8), Korczyk 7, Uzokwe 8 (Digby 53, 7), Montgomery 6 (Newman 40, 7) it’s been us and Jersey, and I think next season there’ll be three or four teams in the battle.”
Meanwhile, Doncaster, whose first half effort was one of their best this campaign, finish sixth - 10 wins and 12 defeats - now begin preparing for the Cup clash against the same opponents.
“With the Cup semi-final ahead, some of our guys put their hands up to get in the squad. The Cup is a big game for us and keeps our season alive and I was really proud of the way our boys competed.
“We defended well for large periods, but we couldn’t hold the ball long enough and our kicking game needs to be more accurate,” said Doncaster’s coach Steve Boden.
The yellow cards against Ealing hooker Shaun Malton (repeated offending) and Doncaster lock John Kelly (technical infringement) were not influential.