Ealing Trailfinders 1871 matched the glorious May weather at the Dings Crusaders ground in Bristol with an outstanding display of smart rugby to end a successful 2024/25 with silverware. Having beaten Weybridge Vandals in the semi-final of the Papa Johns Community Cup Counties 1 Plate South with astute game management and by accumulating points at key stages of the game, 1871 were again indebted to the trusty left boot of Harry Vidler to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Vidler’s two penalties and a drop goal, along with two out of three conversions, ultimately proved crucial, with Old Bristolians outscoring Ealing by four tries to three.

Roared on by a large and enthusiastic following in warm conditions, 1871 weathered some early Bristolians pressure with solid tackling and took a lead they were never to surrender with a defence-splitting run from line-out possession by wing Josh Steadman, who timed his pass to brother Lewis perfectly to beat the last defender. While the opening score was slightly against the run of play, 1871 grew into the game and increasingly dominated territory. With 6 minutes gone, Bristolians went offside at the breakdown on their own 10 metre line, and Vidler’s penalty kick put his side 10 points ahead against a resilient team who had plenty of dangerous runners. Jack Hobbs was forced to leave the field with a recurrence of an injury, resulting in a switch to his wing position for Kyle Beck, with 18-year-old Stan Ridout replacing Beck at scrum half, where he went on to play an assured game. Immediately afterwards, No 8 Dave Francis set off on a powerful run from the base of the scrum, at the next breakdown the referee signalled a penalty to Ealing and Vidler nailed a drop goal with advantage being played.

The momentum swung five minutes later when inside centre Ryan Conyard was yellow-carded for a tackle beyond the horizontal. A clearance kick was collected by the Bristolians left wing, and swift passing among the backs led to a finish in the corner, from where the conversion attempt was missed. With Conyard’s return to the field imminent, Bristolians scored a second try by moving the ball first left, then right, and exploiting a gap in the defence from quickly recycled ball. The conversion attempt was hooked, and before the break there was time for Vidler to add another penalty, leaving the half-time score delicately poised at 16-10.

The first score of the second period was likely to prove crucial. Ealing stole a line-out soon after the re-start, and full back Keir Gordon, in his last game for 1871 before returning to university, made a powerful break and shook off attempted tackles before releasing Josh Steadman, whose try was converted to put his team two scores ahead at 23-10. The gap was soon narrowed again when the local side kicked to touch rather than taking an easy 3 points with a penalty and were rewarded with a try from a driven maul.

With Bristolians within one score of overhauling 1871’s lead, it was the Londoners who dominated possession for the next period of play, and their increasing superiority was converted into points when Beck was put into space to cross the line wide out on the left and finish under the posts, giving Vidler the simple task of adding the extras. Once again the momentum swung, and with the referee losing patience after awarding Bristolians four penalties in a short time he showed a yellow card to Josh Steadman for a deliberate knock-on with a try looking inevitable on the left wing. The penalty was taken short, and the forwards drove over to leave the score once again close at 28-24. Down a man, Ealing managed to keep play mostly in the opposition half for the last few minutes, and when Old Bristolians were penalised for not releasing, Vidler kicked to touch to end an enthralling encounter and spark wild celebrations that continued on the coach journey home and back in Ealing.

The Papa Johns trophy is just reward for a fine season, despite the club narrowly missing out on promotion in a tight group of four at the top of the table, and the coaching team of Phil Smith, Dave Brathwaite and Eddie Beck can be immensely proud of what has been achieved.