After last week’s surprise defeat to Doncaster, an energetic and effervescent Ealing Trailfinders side bounced back strongly to put a spirited Nottingham under the cosh, running in four first half tries to secure a bonus point win, with the most clinical of displays.
Nottingham rallied to shade the second period but as Captain, David Williams, making his record breaking, 109th Championship appearance for the club, stated in his post-match interview, “We got taught a lesson today, by the best team in the league.” Like his troops in the final forty, he responded with, “We’re still gelling as a team. We’re not in a bad place.”
At the set piece, the home side started slowly, being penalised at their first two scrums. However, when the Referee swapped sides at the third scrum, it was Archie Van der Flier’s turn to celebrate the decision and in the second half, they won their second scrum penalty when the replacement front-row put on a mighty heave to drive the visitors backwards at pace.
However, it was at the lineout where Nottingham were at their most profligate, conceding five of their own throws to a disruptive Ealing outfit. Two of which were just 5m out from the opposition try line.
The men in grey opened the scoring within 10 minutes, when their outside half, Craig Willis ghosted through the green and white defence on the 22, beat the cover and just managed to steer his outstretched arm sufficiently far enough to reach the line.
Further pressure by the team from the capital forced man in the middle, Mike Hudson, to issue the only yellow card of the entire proceedings to Kegan Christian-Goss and it was during his ten-minute sojourn that the Trailfinders found their way over the Archer’s whitewash on two further occasions to extend their lead to 19 points within 25 minutes through tries by Jordan Holgate and Tom Collins.
Once Nottingham’s midfield was restored, it didn’t take long for them to register the first score for the home team, when Charlie Myall sliced through under the posts after great approach work by Matt Arden and Harry Graham, cutting the deficit to 12, on 28 minutes.
This brief spark was all that the boys from the Bay could muster in the opening half but last season’s champions weren’t done and after pinching lineout ball and attacking down the blindside, Holgate fed No. 8 Will Montgomery, who raced 40m to score in the corner, giving a half-time score of Nottingham 7 – 24 Ealing Trailfinders.
Director of Rugby, Ben Ward would have been delighted with the score at the break and even more so, when his charges began the second period in similar fashion, scoring in the 51st minute through lock David Douglas Bridge, who barged over from close range, following a planned lineout move and despite the home team repelling the first few forays.
Six minutes later it was Tom Collins who snatched his second of the evening, in an excellent solo effort. A strong counter-ruck enabled the winger to race into the 22 before putting boot to ball and winning the race to the touchdown. After a quick discussion between the officials, who had no radio communication throughout the match, the try was awarded and the West Londoners stretched their lead to 7 – 36.
Craig Hammond’s men reacted strongly and stormed back with two tries of their own. The first on 64 minutes by replacement hooker, Jack Dickinson, from a lineout in the 22, after the visitors had been penalised in midfield. Jai Johal added the extras to notch his first points for the club.
The try of the game followed in the penultimate minute, when Nottingham’s Man of the Match, Captain David Williams raced over 50m to score. He described it thus, “I’ve always crafted my game to find space and to be in the right place at the right time. I took the pop pass from Josh Goodwin and just pinned my ears back. I was at my limit as the cover defence arrived but I managed to thrust him off and dive over.” Johal, once again, did the honours.
With just enough time for Trailfinders to kick-off, a buzz of anticipation arose around the ground that a try bonus might be within the Archers’ grasp but sadly it wasn’t to be and when Mike Hudson whistled for ‘no side’, the scoreboard read, Nottingham 21 – 36 Ealing Trailfinders.
A valiant display by the Green and Whites, with a number of positives but they found themselves matched against a side that defended resolutely, were strong at the set-piece, counter-rucked well and had pace in all departments. Nottingham, when they moved the ball wide, as is their wont, looked good but the gain-line breaks were hard to come by on this occasion.
The final word goes to record-breaker, David Williams, who wrestled the mantle of most Championship appearances from Josh Poullet and stated that “It came as a nice surprise. There have been many top players here at the Bay and to be amongst them is an honour. It’s great to be part of this club and I hope to be here a lot longer.”