Ealing Trailfinders show champion pedigree in second half

By James Orpin

Ealing T ………….62pts

Tries: Bird-Tulloch 15, Hampson 32, 48; Terry 38, 41; Ehizode 50, Newman 54, Collins 64, Gwynn 70, Shaw 79

Conversions: Worboys 33, Jones 42, 49, 51, 55, 80

Hartpury ……….. 19pts

Tries: Austin 2, 17; Crane 27

Conversions: Bazalgate 17, 27

Ealing Trailfinders ran in 10 tries to complete their pre-season schedule after cutting loose in the second half.

It was a tight affair in the first half with the Championship favourites trailing 19-5 after half an hour.

But two tries in eight minutes closed the gap to 19-15 and after the break they hit the accelerator with Hartpury powerless to halt their charge.

It was not the ideal start for last season’s Championship winners as John Barnes’ visitors opened the scoring after just two minutes through scrum-half Mike Austin.

Ealing drew level on 15 minutes with centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch’s try but Hartpury quickly struck back to gain the lead with Austin’s second.

Hooker Will Crane’s try just before the half-hour mark extended their lead to 19-5 and it looked briefly like Ealing might be letting the game slip away.

However they showed their champion pedigree by scoring two tries before half-time, with sniping play from scrum-half Craig Hampson, and then a move down the blind-side putting hooker Cam Terry over for the score.

Second Half

Trailfinders wasted no time after the break to put more on the board as Terry grabbed his second a minute in.

It was really started to click for the home side after clearly having words at half time, and they went on to score another three tries in 15 minutes extending their lead to 45-19.

Hampson got his second followed by second row Ehize Ehizode and openside Ollie Newman.

They hit the half century in the 63rd minute as Tom Collins scored after some great work from Ealing’s driving maul.

Ealing did not ease up going into the final 10 as Geordie Gwynn finished off a try that was started by Michael Strange in his own 22.

George Shaw crashing over under the sticks in the final minutes to take Trailfinders past the 60-point mark.

After scoring 45 points alone in the second half it ended an impressive unbeaten pre-season for the Trailfinders.

Confidence will be high going into their first Championship game of the season for Ealing, which is a repeat of this fixture at Trailfinders Sports Ground.