Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nds battled hard against the second string of Regional 2 side Old Haberdashers but eventually lost by five tries to two on a bitterly cold early December day.

Ealing began brightly with a thumping tackle by Kavan Fitzpatrick, later awarded his tie for 100 senior club appearances and a barnstorming run by No 8 Tijai Bright, but lost possession at a penalty line-out. Whenever the home side put a few passes together their opponents were up quickly in defence to snuffle out any danger. With 6 minutes gone, Habs turned over Ealing ball after a wayward pass, their No 8 made a telling break and a well-timed pass was well collected low down with the Ealing defence scattered. A second try followed from a penalty taken short near the 1871 line, before Ealing fly-half Andrew Quick reduced the deficit to 12-3 with a penalty in off the upright. Five minutes later a Quick clearance kick partly charged down was collected by flanker Toby Holt, who made hard yards before releasing wing Danny O’Sullivan to score half-way out on the left. With the conversion missed, Ealing were just four points down. From an Ealing put-in near their own line, Quick’s clearance kick landed just short of touch, where an Old Haberdashers player fell on the ball, quickly recovered his footing and accelerated past the last defenders for a crucial score. Ealing responded well, and 3 minutes later a quick pass from centre Semi Ikahihifo from rucked ball near the opposition try line put Fitzpatrick into space for a converted try that brought the deficit back to just four points at the interval.

Haberdashers continued to enjoy the bulk of territory and possession in the second half and stretched their lead by seizing on loose ball at the side of a ruck. With time running out for Ealing to claw their way back into the game, the away defence remained well resolute, and the result was put beyond doubt with a simple overlap from the breakdown.

1871 2nds currently stand third in the 10-team Middlesex Merit Table Division 1 and have a significant game on Saturday 9th December against four-placed Old Priorians.