­Eight-try victory for ruthless 1871

Ealing Trailfinders 1871 remain early leaders of Counties 2 Herts & Middlesex with a perfect 15 points out of 15 following a dominant display of attack and, when needed, defence.

On a bright mid-September day, the visitors from Hertfordshire kicked off and gained possession. However, strong tackling induced a penalty for failing to release, and from the ensuing line-out, the ball was swung across the field and back again, with quick passing by scrum half Kyle Beck catching the Tabard defence out of position. Eventually, with the game just 3 minutes old, Beck himself crossed the line under the posts to add to his already impressive tally for the season. A few minutes later a second penalty was drawn in similar circumstances, and fly half Harry Vidler narrowly missed to the right of the posts from 45 metres. Almost immediately Vidler had another opportunity, this time from shorter range, and duly obliged to make the score 10-0. After another Vidler penalty, Ealing increased their lead to 18 through No 8 Will Day, up in support to finish off after incisive running by the back line. Around the half-hour mark Ealing ball was lost in mid-field but prop Dan O’Mahony stole it back and Beck eventually popped up to take a scoring pass for his second try of the day. The bonus-point fourth try came with half-time approaching when Vidler put in a well-weighted kick towards the right-hand touchline and full back Lewis Steadman sped through to touch down for a long-awaited first try of the season. With a testing conversion in the breeze nailed, Ealing immediately returned to the attack, with both centres Ben Parkinson and Josh Steadman going close. Quickly recycled ball reached flanker Kavan Fitzpatrick, who spotted a gap, put his head down and bulldozed his way over. Another conversion left 1871 with a healthy 39-0 lead at the break.

As in the previous two league games there was a slight drop-off in intensity in the second half, not helped by uncontested scrums enforced by Tabard injuries, but the Ealing defence held firm whenever the visitors threatened the try line, with notable commitment to the cause by replacement flanker Adam Rodrigo, making his league debut. After a first ten minutes of the second period spent entirely in the Tabard half, second-row Nyall Wake took a scoring pass from Day, Vidler converting well from right of the posts, and soon afterwards wing Finlay McBride broke from deep, Fitzpatrick made hard yards in support and Beck took an inside pass to complete his second consecutive league hat-trick, in so doing pushing the lead beyond the 50 mark. Tabard enjoyed their best period with a quarter of an hour remaining and came close to scoring after being awarded a penalty for a high tackle. However, Ealing turned the ball over and launched a swift counter-attack through Josh Steadman and brother Lewis, with McBride finishing under the posts for his third try in his first two league games.

Captain Lewis Steadman was delighted with the performance of all 18 players and was particularly pleased by the zero on the scoreboard for the opposition, after both previous opponents had earned four-try bonus points. Coach Mark Percival was equally pleased, although he felt that a number of further chances had gone begging and that greater ruthlessness might be needed in weeks to come with tougher fixtures ahead. Coach’s men of the match were, inevitably, Beck for the backs and Day for the forwards. Next Saturday, 24 September, Ealing Trailfinders 1871 travel to Harrow, hoping to stay top of the league and add to the 23 tries already on the board after the first three games.

Scorers

Tries: Beck (3), Day, L. Steadman, Wake, Fitzpatrick, McBride

Conversions: Vidler (7)

Penalties: Vidler (2)