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Ealing Trailfinders 1871 recorded their eighth consecutive bonus-point win in in Counties 2 Hertfordshire and Middlesex with a dominant display yielding five tries.

On a warm late-October day, Ealing found themselves on the back foot for the first 5 minutes but repelled everything their mid-table opponents could throw at them with shuddering tackles that left the impression that the Hendon sting was being drawn, although conceding four early penalties was a slight concern. Inevitably the tide began to turn as the home side persevered with their one-dimensional approach, with a half-break by inside centre Josh Steadman pushing Ealing deep into Hendon territory. From the second of two penalties taken as scrums, the ball was worked along the back line and full back and captain Lewis Steadman stretched to the line, with fly half Harry Vidler bisecting the posts with the conversion from wide on the left after 17 minutes.

Hendon returned to the attack, orchestrated by their fly half, and enjoyed territorial superiority for the next 10 minutes. Shortly after losing their tight-head prop to injury, they were awarded a penalty and won the ensuing line out on the Ealing 22 metre line, only for outside centre Max Muirhead to intercept a wayward pass and gallop to the try line untouched, giving Vidler a straightforward kick in front of the sticks. Territory was evenly shared for the remainder of an injury-strewn first half, with outstanding Ealing tackling snuffing out any suggestion of a Hendon score.

Five minutes into the second period, the visitors steadily moved play upfield, and were awarded a penalty 20 metres out. The Hendon outside centre interfered to prevent a quick move, and Ealing opted for a scrum. The Ealing pack, which held the advantage in the set pieces throughout, marched towards the try line, and when progress slowed No 8 Will Day sensed the right moment to pick up and power over under the posts, giving Vidler an easy conversion. Just after the three-quarter mark, Ealing were penalised but turned the ball over. Scrum half Harrison Slater feinted to pass but accelerated through a gap, leaving would-be tacklers trailing in his wake. The bonus-point fourth try was converted by Vidler.

With 69 minutes on the clock, a missed tackle enabled Hendon to get onto the scoreboard with a try they probably merited on the balance of play, but within 2 minutes replacement Kavan Fitzpatrick, who has been a fine run of form in recent weeks, repeated Slater’s show-and-go trick and ran half the length of the field to finish under the posts, after 2nd row Jason Dissanayake had won the ball in the tackle and then acted as a link. Celebrations were cut short, however, when an unnecessary late tackle after he had already grounded the ball well clear of the defence led to an over-reaction by Fitzpatrick, prompting the referee to raise the red card, along with a yellow for the Hendon player. Vidler added his fifth conversion of the day before himself seeing yellow for a blatant offside with a couple of minutes left to play. Ealing held out despite the numerical disadvantage.

Next Saturday, 29 October, sees 1871 take on London Scottish Lions, who have won six and drawn one of their opening seven games and like Ealing have amassed an impressive points total. A titanic battle is in prospect between these two old rivals.