Smart game management and clinical execution in key situations saw Ealing Trailfinders 1871 through to a clash with Old Bristolians at  the Dings Crusaders ground in Bristol for the final of Papa Johns Community Cup Counties 1 South Plate, 1871’s first major final since it came into existence a few years ago.

On a very warm mid-May day on the 4G pitch at Cobham RFC, to which the game was switched because cricket had taken over at Weybridge, Ealing were well prepared before the start and took an early lead when Vandals went offside from Harry Vidler’s kickoff. Ealing elected to take the points on offer. However, it quickly became apparent why Weybridge finished their Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex just a few points off the promotion place when they used their heavy but mobile pack to score two early tries, both converted. In both cases penalties were kicked to touch close to the Ealing line, in the first case a powerful maul proving 1871’s undoing and in the second a solid maul platform enabling the inside centre to take crash ball from a quick pass and finish close to the posts. Facing a team that were clearly well coached with players who knew their roles, 1871 were undaunted by these early setbacks and began to settle into the game with solid set pieces and surging runs by the forwards and line breaks by the backs. Ferocious tackling also cut short further attempts by the Vandals to move further ahead. With a quarter of the game gone, Vidler bisected the posts with a penalty from just inside the Vandals half to reduce the gap to 14-6, and five minutes later he added another three points to reflect his side’s increasing dominance up front. Weybridge came perilously close to opening up a healthy lead, but a kick into the left-hand corner evaded both attackers and defenders and Ealing cleared. 1871 came close themselves with Sevanaia Laqeretabua bursting clear from a neat pass by debutant Jack Power and breaking a tackle before feeding captain Lewis Steadman, who was stopped just short of the try line, where his team were awarded a penalty in a dangerous position. However, the penalty was reversed following discussion between the referee and his line judge. Instead it was Vandals who were next to score, through their lively hooker following a well-rehearsed attacking maul. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 19-9. Ealing showed the home side they too can maul their way over a few minutes later, 2nd row Reggie Elliot-Jones being the man to put his name on the scoresheet. As time added on for injuries approached, Ealing gained a scrum put-in after a break by Josh Steadman had nearly produced a try, and coach Phil Smith sent on the ‘bomb squad’ of Tim Hitchcock and Dan O’Mahony. The significant nudge achieved as a result we enough to disrupt the Weybridge defence to the extent that Dave Francis was able to pick up at the base and feed Vidler, who popped the ball to Hobbs on a telling angle to score close to the uprights. The conversion reduced the deficit to a more manageable five points. It meant that having been in arrears for most of the game, 1871 went into the break 23-19 ahead.

A key moment in this tightly contested semi-final came early in the second period courtesy of Hobbs, reading a pass in the Vandals midfield, intercepting and sprinting away to the try line for another converted try. However, Vandals came back to within one score with a break down the right wing and well-timed scoring pass. Another infringement by Weybridge enabled Vidler to nail his fourth penalty of the afternoon to open the gap to 33-24 before the Surrey side repeated their line-out driving maul routine for an unconverted try. With one score dividing the teams, Ealing needed to be next to put points on the board, and duly achieved it through Francis in a maul. Good game control kept the scoresheet at 40-29, and with the last play Vidler notched his fifth three-pointer to close out the game.

Ealing joint men of the match were the impressive back row of Francis, Laqeretabua and Theo Szweda, but all 20 players contributed to a fine performance, with debuts for Power, Alfie Cox and Edward Reid. This tactical masterclass and smart game management means 1871 can look forward to a big day out in Bristol.