Last-gasp Farrar goes over to steal it for Ealing

By MIKE SINCLAIR

C Pirates ………. 24pts

Tries: Wedlake 39, Penalty 46, Price-Thomas 72

Conversions: Houston 39, Jenkins 72

Penalties: Houston 39

Ealing T ………….29pts

Tries: Collins 32, Cornish 44, Wilson 51, Farrar 80

Conversions: Jones 32, 44, 51

Penalties: Jones 24

CHAMPIONS Ealing survived two yellow cards and a spell with 13 players to snatch a last-gasp victory in a fierce clash between last season’s Championship top two at the Mennaye.

With the clock in the red and the sides deadlocked at 24-24, Reuben Bird-Tulloch and Tom Collins stretched the valiant Pirates defence beyond breaking point and Rob Farrar squeezed over in the right corner for the bonus-point winning try.

“Sickening,” said Pirates coach Gavin Cattle. “We had our opportunities. There were three or four crucial moments and I’m just gutted.”

Last season’s surprise runners-up, hit by injuries after rebuilding again during the summer, were unable to include their loan players from Ealing and Cattle added: “We were down to the bare bones but there are a lot of positives to take away.”

Squandering two attacking lineouts after Ealing had influential scrum-half Craig Hampson and Angus Kernohan sin-binned within seven minutes of each other cost Pirates big-time.

“To win like that is fantastic,” said Ealing boss Ben Ward. “We were building good pressure but not executing. You have to give credit to Pirates because they always find a way to stop you on the gain line. It’s a really difficult place to come to.

“We have a young group mixed with a sprinkling of older guys and we’re enjoying the journey, testing ourselves each week.”

Pirates’ Bruce Houston and Ealing’s Dan Jones exchanged penalties before Hampson’s huge pass handed Collins the opening try. Pirates responded after Arthur Relton left two tacklers facing each other to race 60m before being halted. Pirates capitalised with Robin Wedlake reading a tricky bounce to collect Dan His-cocks’ long pass and cross for 10-all at half-time.

Four minutes into the second half, Hampson set up Matt Cornish’s try and Jones converted again to restore Ealing’s seven-point lead before Pirates were awarded a penalty try and Hampson was binned for deliberately knocking the ball into touch, denying Will Trewin a potential touchdown.

Depleted Trailfinders went ahead after Farrar dived on Houston’s wayward pass to set up the attack which ended with Tobi Wilson’s try before Kernohan joined Hampson in the bin for a deliberate knock-on.

Pirates failed to turn the screw but, with Ealing back to 15, Hiscocks and Matt McNab sent Iwan Price Thomas in between the posts, Iwan Jenkins converted for 24-24 – before Farrar’s final strike.