Ealing Trailfinders 1871 returned to their high-scoring ways of the autumn with a ruthless display against mid-table Tabard, running in 12 tries, the only blemish on the afternoon being the concession of three tries by what remains the league’s meanest defence.

Ealing made full use of the opportunities for attacking rugby presented by the 4G pitch at Wasps’ Twyford Avenue ground and took an early lead when Ben Parkinson passed out of the tackle to fellow centre Darragh Sinnott, who sliced effortlessly through the visiting defence. Harry Vidler added the extras, as he did a total of 10 times during the course of the game. Four minutes later, Josh Steadman, playing on the wing, added to his impressive total for the season, easily outpacing the would-be tacklers.  Further attacks followed, based on a solid scrum and line-out platform, with Josh Steadman notching his second of the day before Parkinson’s first score after Lewis Steadman had drawn the last man secured the four-try bonus point with less than 30 minutes played. Louis Aitcheson-Walker finished well under the posts to add to his own impressive total for the season, and there was just time for Josh Steadman to complete his hat-trick before the half-time whistle. An impressive first half left Ealing 42 points to the good, having conceded just three penalties.

There was no let-up in pace at the start of the second period, with replacement Harrison Slater immediately making his mark on the game by chasing an astute grubber kick by Vidler down the left wing and touching down unopposed. After seven tries all scored by the backs, the next score went to Tim Hitchcock, who was in the right place at the right time to seize on a loose ball just short of the try line and touch down. Four minutes later Parkinson added his second, easily outpacing the visiting defence to finish under the posts. Tabard finally broke their duck 16 minutes into the second half with a try on the fringes of the breakdown and doubled their tally in similar fashion 9 minutes later. 1871 responded with a second try by Aitcheson-Walker and a fourth by Josh Steadman, whose pace and balance caused problems for Tabard all afternoon. The visitors added a third try, again from the breakdown, but Toby Holt, having moved from flanker to hooker in a front row alongside Hitchcock and Devis Acellam following the loss of both props, Laurence Troke and Luke Beasley, to injury, stretched to plant the ball over the line to complete 1871’s highest total of the season. A Tabard player, no doubt also remembering the 67-6 drubbing in the reverse fixture at Radlett, was heard to say he hoped never to have to play Ealing again.

Coaches’ joint man of the match were Parkinson and UWL student Carlos Duarte, who made an assured debut off the bench at flanker.

Ealing 1871 remain top of the table, six points ahead of Brunel University, who have a game in hand. Two more victories in the remaining five games will make promotion a certainty, but the target is to finish ahead of Brunel and win the league.