In atrocious conditions at the height of Storm Bert, Ealing Trailfinders 18711 had to dig deep to come back from a two-try deficit against a team which, despite a poor run of form in the league, were well equipped for the task with a heavy pack and a kicker who made good use of the strong cross-wind. Ealing were ultimately grateful that, with progressively worsening rain, the elements were slightly in their favour in the second half.

An inevitably error-strewn first half hour saw Watford-based Fullerians pinning 1871 deep in their own half with well-directed kicks, and it was only spirited defensive sets that restricted them to two tries, with the Fullierians back three enjoying several opportunities to run back at the visitors. However, belying their relative lack of weight, the Ealing set scrum held firm and went on to display some dominance after the break.

The hosts scored converted tries on 21 and 28 minutes, but just when the gap was beginning to look ominous 1871 finally moved into the opposition 22 and an excellent break and offload by flanker Ben Thompson enabled winger Jack Hobbs to put them on the scoreboard, with the extras added by Harrison Slater.

With the score at the break 14-7 it was all to play for in the second period, and a fast re-start saw outside centre and captain Lewis Steadman take a well-timed offload after hard running by his centre partner Ryan Conyard. Ealing were still behind at 14-12 with the conversion missed, but piled on the pressure and camped for long periods on the Fullerians line, drawing two yellow cards for the hosts. After 55 minutes patience and pressure told as the Ealing set scrum marched their opponents over the line from 5 metres, where an illegal attempt to stop the inevitable touch down gave the referee no alternative but to award a penalty try, 1871’s third of the season. The remaining 25 minutes yielded very few opportunities for either side in what turned into a slug-fest with strong defensive sets in rain that had now turned horizontal, with Ealing down to 14 with a yellow card. 1871 missed out on the bonus for four tries but managed to eke out an eighth successive victory.

Coach Phil Smith was pleased with the performance, commenting that the weather had been something of a leveller, and that while the set scrums had gone well the line out had not functioned as well as usual. The defence had been excellent, and sometimes it was important to ‘win ugly’. Man of the match was Thompson.

After a week off, 1871 travel to Old Streetonians in Hackney Marshes, where more wintry conditions can be expected, in the last game of the first round of fixtures.