In their first home game at Level 6 in Regional 2 Thames, Ealing Trailfinders 1871 put in a superlative performance against last season’s league runners-up Beaconsfield, running in five tries and conceding just one. In front of a sizeable and enthusiastic crowd under the Vallis Way lights, Ealing hit the heights in all facets of the game, with power up front, almost faultless line-out work, excellent movement of the ball and resolute defence. Weeks of well-attended training was reflected in an outstanding work rate maintained throughout the 80 minutes.

Ealing came out with all guns blazing, hunting down the catcher from Harry Vidler’s excellent kick-off, attacking down the left and forcing a penalty which Vidler converted in the second minute of the game. There was no respite as the Ealing pack made a statement by shunting their opponents back at the first set scrum, and the pressure told 9 minutes into the game, a clean line-out take and powerful running in the centre of the field enabling Carlos Duarte, playing on the left wing rather than in his more accustomed position of flanker, to break free and pop up a scoring pass to scrum-half Richard Rhydderch-Roberts, who was making a welcome return from injury. However, Beaconsfield responded quickly through their captain and outside centre with a powerful run to the line from scrum ball. It took Ealing less than 2 minutes to react to this setback, Duarte finishing off in the left-hand corner at the end of a period of fine attacking back play. Vidler landed the difficult conversion to put his team 15-7 to the good. Four minutes later hooker Luke Parry peeled off an attacking line-out and fed Nyall Wake, who along with his second-row partner Noah Stewart was on top form throughout, to finish at pace under the posts. With just over a quarter of the game gone, Parry was deemed to have pulled down a maul close to the Ealing line and was shown a yellow card. Despite being a man down, 1871 held out and eventually secured the four-try bonus point. Beaconsfield were awarded a penalty and kicked to touch, but flanker Gereint Price stole the line-out, passed to Stewart who galloped 25 metres, and was on hand to take a well-timed scoring return pass. For all their dominance, 1871 did not add to the score in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

Josh Steadman came onto the right wing at the start of the second period, having missed the two previous league games with a hamstring injury. Both defences held firm until a period of fine loose forward play ended with Vidler sending a pass out to Steadman in space on the right wing for a short run-in. Under intense pressure, the visitors collected two yellow cards in quick succession, but no further scoring followed.

Head coach Phil Smith, who joined 1871 from Beaconsfield 3 years ago, was understandably delighted with the performance, which he felt was the best since he arrived, and named Duarte as man of the match, although he commented that the award could have gone to any of the squad of 18. Ealing move up to fourth in the table after three games, with a home game against local rivals Grasshoppers up next on Saturday 17 October.

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