From the team talk in the changing room through to the warm-up, the players looked to be ready to put in the extra few percent needed to lift themselves for this game and to right a few wrongs from previous weeks.

It was a warm day, but the sweat appeared in the warm-up and things started click into place.
Chiswick came out the blocks fast and hard, harrying Ealing from the get go and the players seemed a bit stunned by this. Their try came from an Ealing infringement, then fatally to turn their backs. Rightly so, Chiswick took a quick tap, recycling the ball quickly and crashing over. Heads did not drop, however and the next 28 minutes, both sides took it to the other, with Ealing at times allowing Chiswick to bully them off the ball at the breakdown, before shutting them down over and over again. There was a particular very good defensive set, where Chiswick were battling all around the Ealing 5 metre line, only to be repelled and to lose the ball. That was the spark needed and at 38 minutes Ealing’s forwards gave a massive shove in the scrum, gaining an advantage before playing the ball and recycling it with a couple of pick and go plays, before Adam Rodrigo muscled himself over for a try.

At that stage and before all of the Ealing players had retreated to the half-way line, one of the Chiswick players started a melee, right in front of the referee, and earning himself a yellow card in the process.

Half time score 5/5

The second half was a continuation of the first half intent from Ealing and after 8 minutes, Chiswick managed to defend their line and earn a goal line drop out. However, Kelvin Amankwaa caught the ball and charged at the Chiswick players, but was tackled short of the line, undeterred two pick and go plays, sucking in the defenders enabled to ball to be passed out and Jake Usher crashed over.

Alfie Cox slotted the extras.

The next try came after 23 minutes with Alfie Cox gaining the honours, after an excellent steal then a hard, strong run by Sunny Gujhudar then a big pick and go play and the ball being passed wide for Alfie to crash over on a hard line.

5 minutes later, Ealing again scored after winning a scrum and Alex Gillespie noting that no-one was at home, deftly chipped the ball over the advancing Chiswick heads. Kayci Bernard cut through the Chiswick players to chase and then catch the by now bouncing ball at full speed and without breaking stride to go over the line and gain the bonus point.At 31 minutes Daniel

Ford came on to score Ealing’s 5th and final try, after winning a lineout at about 10 metres out, then a couple of pick and go plays, before he crashed the ball and muscled himself over the line.

Alex Gillespie took the extras.

A good, all round, pleasing to the eye 80 minute performance by Ealing, which was led capably by Luke Beasley. The players showed grit and determination against an at times more physical side and despite this, stuck to the processes and held firm with a very, very strong defensive set from 1 through to 18.
David Brathwaite

Penalty Count
1871 2nd XV - 4 / Total = 8
Chiswick - 3 / Total = 7