Trailfinders up against the big boys

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Ealing Trailfinders 16 - Hertford 28

Match report from the club.

Ealing Trailfinders unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday at Vallis Way when they lost to Hertford in the Powergen National Trophy.

Ealing were keen to prove they could compete with a team from the national leagues - where they are fighting to be next season. After two emphatic wins in the league and a superb victory over Richmond two weeks ago in the Powergen they had great belief they could produce an upset against the visitors from the league above. 

Hertford are currently in second place in National League 3 so when they scored a try within three minutes of the start for a seven point lead they must have thought that their league status would give them an easy win. Ealing also seemed to lack confidence at first, perhaps unnerved by the loss of several key players to injury. Just 13 minutes into the match Ealing were 10-0 down after a penalty in front of the posts, but from that moment on they started to play the rugby that has made them so successful. For the rest of the first half they were undoubtedly the better side, Hertford playing most of the half close to their own try line. First a penalty came which Scrum half pat McCarthy stroked over, and then after several close calls, Ealing winger Adam Hulmston touched down near the posts. McCarthy scored a simple conversion to level the scores at 10-10. At this point the crowd began to believe that a win was possible.

But after half time Ealing had to do without fullback Leighton Norman who hurt his ribs in a crunching tackle, and now the weakened local side were finding it harder to convert pressure on the Hertford line into scores. Both sides began to give away penalties, and when Hertford got a succession of kicks from around the Ealing 22 the score began to drift away from the local team. Hertford scored five penalties in the second half giving the visitors a 28 - 16 victory. For Ealing it was a disappointment but has made everyone in the club aware that if they achieve their main aim for the season, a return to the national leagues, it will be tough, but not something they need to fear.

October 5, 2005