Fielding no fewer than three debutants, Ealing Trailfinders 1871, despite not hitting their very best form, proved more than a match for local rivals Wasps FC, running in six tries to complete the double, secure a full five points and stay top of the league.

On a bitterly cold early December day, Ealing, who brought in second row Reggie Ellis-Jones, inside centre Darragh Sinnott and wing Kayci Bernard for their first league appearances,  kicked off into a stiff breeze and immediately gained possession thanks to a Wasps fumble , soon forcing a penalty. The penalty line-out was secured by flanker Jason Dissanayake, and the driven maul proved unstoppable with hooker Luke Parry touching down with just 2 minutes on the clock. Fly-half Harry Vidler’s attempted conversion from half-way out narrowly missed. Almost immediately Wasps replied with a converted try when a stray pass in the Ealing back line in an attempt to attack from deep bounced unluckily off the boot of full-back Lewis Steadman straight into the welcoming arms of Wasps fly-half Brenton Dean, who ran in unopposed under the posts for a converted try. Despite this set-back, 1871 dominated the early exchanges and came close to scoring a close-range try following a strong run by Lewis Steadman. A high tackle by Wasps on 11 minutes gave Vidler the opportunity to put his team 8-7 ahead, which he duly accepted. Just after the quarter mark, a run down the left wing by Josh Steadman split the Wasps defence, and outside centre Max Muirhead seized on loose ball at the breakdown and, spotting a gap down the blind side, added to his try tally for season, with the conversion successful. Within two minutes Ealing stretched their lead to 20-7 when Vidler dummied to go inside and instead released Josh Steadman into space. Steadman drew the last defender and passed to his brother Lewis to finish wide on the right. Wasps finished the half in the ascendancy, but the green-and-whites managed to steal a penalty line-out to stay 13 points to the good at the break.

With the wind now in their favour, 1871 continued to boss the game as the second half unfolded, and on 45 minutes debutant Sinnott took a crash ball and forced his way over under the posts for a popular try, converted by Vidler. With the bonus point for four tries secured, Ealing notched a fifth three minutes later through Josh Steadman, a regular scorer in recent weeks, showing searing pace with brother Lewis this time the provider with a long pass out to the left wing. Vidler added the extras. The impression at the time was that the floodgates had been opened, but the next 20 minutes instead proved scrappy and at times ill-tempered, with Vidler and his opposite number both yellow-carded after an attempt by Vidler to take an early penalty. The game was drifting to a conclusion when 1871 scored their sixth and final try through Dissanayake, fed by fellow flanker Toby Holt, who had seized on spilt Wasps possession.  Holt ended the game in the sin bin for a high tackle, but no further scores ensued for either side.

Post match Josh Steadman received his Captain's Award Cap for season 2021/22 and Afzaal Mir earned his 100 appearances tie.

This Saturday, 1871 travel to Radlett in Hertfordshire to play mid-table Tabard and will be looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table with three other teams with one or two games in hand in hot pursuit.