Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nds continued their impressive start to their debut season in the national leagues with a comfortable win over Saracens Amateurs 1^st XV under the Friday night lights at Vallis Way. While there was little to tell between the two teams in most facets of the game, it was Ealing’s finishing and resolute defence that made the difference.

Ealing began strongly and turned pressure into points through a strong run by centre Dan Clark after five minutes, with a good conversion by full-back Joe Banks. After a slightly scrappy period of play a second try followed, scrum half Hideki Itabashi switching play from right to left at a retreating scrum and throwing a long pass to centre Affie Mir, who finished powerfully from 20 metres out. Unfortunately this score was almost immediately cancelled out Ealing handling errors through a neat grubber kick and pick-up. No further scores followed in the rest of the half, leaving the interval score at 14-7.

Twelve minutes after the break Saracens opted to take the 3 points on offer with a penalty but despite concerted pressure were unable to overcome the Ealing defence, and 1871 scored an excellent and crucial try 33 minutes into the second half when Clark set off on an angled run and offloaded to fly half Calum Jones, who put wing Louis Aitcheson-Walker into space for a try in the corner. With victory assured, Ealing scored their fourth of the day and so doing secured a bonus point. James Rhydderch-Roberts, on his Ealing 1871 debut after more than a year out of the game, carried to within a couple of metres of the Saracens line and then picked up again and drove over. Banks slotted the straightforward conversion.

With just one defeat to date, Ealing 1871 2nds sit in third place in Counties 2 Middlesex. Coach Dave Brathwaite was impressed by a strong defensive set that held firm on all but one occasion and by the superior fitness of the squad. Man of the match was Calum Jones, with strong performances by Clark, Banks and 2^nd row Logan Flint and encouraging displays by the five players who started on the bench.

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