Ealing Trailfinders 1871 blew rivals Saracens Amateurs away with an outstanding first half of attacking rugby that brought a 4-try bonus point after just 22 minutes, exacting ample revenge for an agonising single-point loss back in the autumn. Playing a home fixture on the 4G pitch at Wasps FC in Acton for the third time this season, 1871 used the fast surface and calm conditions to devastating effect, and fully merited the margin of six tries (all scored by the backs) to one.

It was Saracens who took an early lead, with a well-struck penalty from inside their own half after just one minute of play, for not rolling away. Undaunted by this early setback, Ealing played expansive rugby and moved into the lead after 7 minutes. The Ealing pack sent their opponents backwards at the game’s first set scrum, and a quick, flat pass  by scrum half Kyle Beck, back to his scintillating best after injury, sent wing Josh Steadman off on a run down the right wing, before delivering a scoring pass to inside centre Ben Parkinson, giving Harry Vidler at fairly straightforward conversion. Three minutes later, Vidler sent a teasing kick downfield towards the left wing, where Parkinson collected the ball as it bounced infield. This time Parkinson turned provider, sending full back and captain Lewis Steadman over close to the touch line, from where Vidler converted. Shortly after losing a man to a yellow card for an ill-advised comment, Saracens went onto the attack with a 50-22 and won the line out. However, flanker Toby Holt pulled off a shuddering tackle, and the alert Josh Steadman, later named joint man of the match with second row Matt Donnelly, scooped up the loose ball and sped away for a 60-metre try. Vidler converted from in front of the sticks. Saracens finally came into the game and attempted to drive over from a penalty line out, but Ealing successfully defended their line to win a drop-out, which brought a knock-on by Saracens. The Ealing set-piece was again dominant, a delayed pass by Vidler sent Josh Steadman off on another defence-splitting run, Parkinson was up in support and made another 20 metres, and Lewis Steadman finished an outstanding move wide on the left, from where Vidler notched his fourth 2-pointer of the day. Saracens then won a succession of penalties, using the rolling maul as their weapon of choice, and eventually squeezed over to leave the score at the break at 28-10.

With replacements Dan O’Mahony, Reggie Elliott-Jones and Darragh Sinnott on for the second half, Ealing won a penalty soon after play had resumed, and Vidler added the 3 points to stretch the gap to a healthy 21 points. Saracens enjoyed another period of possession but repeatedly lost the ball at key moments under heavy pressure from the Ealing defence, and after Vidler had missed the posts for the first time with a penalty attempt on 66 minutes, enterprising and confident play led to a fifth try. Fast ball from a quickly taken penalty inside the Ealing half was taken on by Parkinson, flanker Gereint Price moved the ball out to the right, second row Nyall Wake fed outside centre Max Muirhead, who linked with Lewis Steadman wide on the right, and a pass back inside found his brother Josh in space to finish with 10 minutes remaining. A final try to add gloss to an emphatic win came with the last play of the game with Muirhead using his strength to force his way over after Josh Steadman had gone close, for a try that again stemmed from loose ball forced by emphatic Ealing tackling.

With Saracens Amateurs now effectively out of the running for the top two places in the league, Ealing 1871 are still in with a chance but will need to come away with a win away to unbeaten league leaders Cheshunt on Saturday 18 February to stay in the hunt before the final game three weeks later, away to Barnet Elizabethans.