Classy Ealing give Bath plenty to think about

By Will Gupwell

Bath ………………..28pts

Tries: Coetzee 8, 42; de Glanville 15, Tuipulotu 80

Conversions: Bailey 9, 16, 43, 81

Ealing……………..36pts

Tries: Wilson 25, Williams 32, Uzokwe 49, Bridge 60, Terry 73

Conversions: Jones 33: Willis 50, 61, 73

Penalties: Jones 40

Ealing earned a famous win against last year’s Premiership finalists at The Rec.

The Championship winners matched their star-studded opononets blow for blow in the physicality stakes and scored some classy tries.

Bath started well and from an early penalty kicked to the corner looked to be driving over but the ball was knocked on. Poor discipline from Ealing gave them another chance and No.8 Jaco Coetzee scored from close range.

After a period of swapping possession, with neither managing to gain momentum, it was Coetzee who got his side going again, breaking multiple tackles and bringing Bath close to the tryline. Quick speed at the ruck gave Lois Schreuder the platform to put Tom de Glanville over for the score.

Being two tries down, the visitors entered a kicking battle in order to find territory and from a penalty entered the red zone for the first time.

Remaining calm with the ball in hand, they worked it well to the other side of the pitch until eventually Tobi Wilson spotted a gap and dived over for their first try. Ealing were enjoying lots of possession and captain Lloyd Williams darted down the blind-side for their second.

With one minute left on the clock and a penalty awarded to the visitors, fly-half Dan Jones opted to go for the posts, taking them into the sheds with a deserved one-point lead.

Bath responded quickly after the break. A strong carry from Joe Cokanasiga got Bath over the gain line and Coetzee went over again for his second try. But ill-discipline from Bath gave Trailfinders another opportunity into the danger zone which they grabbed with both hands as Simon Uzokwe took them over the line.

A Cam Terry turnover allowed Ealing entry again, and Bath were under pressure on their own line, conceding multiple penalties replacement before David Douglas Bridge scored from close range.

Trailfinders were in charge, putting in big hits in defence and not giving Bath an inch over the gain line in the middle third of the pitch.

With ten minutes to go, Ealing were eight points clear of a converted try and hungry to cause an upset.

With a scrum penalty inside Bath’s 22, Ealing went for the corner. It proved unsuccessful but it showed clear ambition that the visitors wanted more.

But not much was going Bath’s way as Cokansiga was sent to the bin for the final minutes for a deliberate knock-on and Trailfinders immediately scored through Terry, with Kepu Tuipulotugrabbing a late consolation.