The coaching team of Phil Smith, Dave Brathwaite and Eddie Beck urged the 1871 squad not to be complacent and to be clinical and ruthless in the last game of 2024 against a Chiswick outfit who have struggled this season after challenging for promotion in the previous campaign, and they responded with a 14-try demolition featuring three hat-tricks among 12 tries for the backs, repeatedly turning complete dominance in the set pieces into points. The eventual haul of 94 points was comfortably 1871’s highest total of the season to date and, indeed, the highest score by any team in the league so far.

Fielding a strong side despite some illness during the week in the camp, with Noah Stewart returning to the second row on his return from university, Ealing showed the confidence of a well-drilled side that had come away from Finchley with a vital win the previous week and set the tone with an early brace of tries by left wing Jack Hobbs, the first produced by an excellent backs move following a scrum at which the Ealing forwards shunted their opponents backwards to create a penalty advantage. Hobbs was on the scoresheet again 4 minutes later, finishing off a move that started with a line-out close to the Ealing line, featuring fine interplay between the Steadman brothers Lewis and Josh. A sustained attack on the Chiswick line from clean line-out possession was eventually finished off by scrum half Richard Rhydderch-Roberts after tight-head prop Akeem Eubank-Anderson had been stopped just short of the line. The first target of a bonus point for scoring four tries was duly achieved with less than half an hour gone with loose-head prop Leo Codrington-Lambert barging his way over. Captain Lewis Steadman at outside centre added two more scores before the break, the second created by taking a great line from quality possession courtesy of another dominant scrum. The contest was effectively over at the break at 40-0, with Harry Vidler having nailed five conversions.

Despite already enjoying a commanding lead, Ealing maintained their relentless pressure as the second period began, with a devastating spell of three tries in 5 minutes. First they attacked from deep, hooker Luke Parry finishing off after telling runs by Lewis Steadman and replacement flanker Carlos Duarte. Rhydderch-Roberts then weaved his way to the line for his second of the day, and a minute later Vidler kicked long down the left-hand touchline from the restart, Hobbs chased down the catcher and Lewis Steadman seized on the loose ball to scamper away to the line and complete his hat-trick. Despite the massive points difference, Chiswick never gave up and were next to score, leaving Ealing 61-7 ahead with 30 minutes left on the clock. However, it took just 4 minutes for 1871 to add to their total through inside centre Ryan Conyard on an angled run after a penalty quickly taken by Rhydderch-Roberts. With a quarter of the game remaining full back Keir Gordon completed the set of try-scoring backs, with a try converted by Flynn Ward, on as a replacement in a welcome return after a prolonged period of injury. At 82-7 Ealing found themselves under pressure close to their own line for the first time and a man down due to a yellow card but maintained excellent defensive discipline and eventually added final scores completing hat-tricks for Rhydderch-Roberts and Hobbs. Ward finished with three conversions to go with nine out of ten for Vidler.

Man of match was Lewis Steadman, with honourable mentions for second row Aidan Jones and flanker Ben Thompson for their work in the loose. After a welcome break for Christmas recuperation and festivities, 1871 return to action with a trip to Welwyn in the New Year.