Away Win For Ealing Trailfinders

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Ealing Trailfinders RFC score eight tries in win over Canterbury

Owen Bruynseels scored a hat-trick of tries as Ealing Trailfinders overcame a slow start to score eight tries and claim a bonus-point 48-19 away win over a limited Canterbury side on Saturday.

Canterbury wing Michael Melford opened the scoring with a try on five minutes, hacking the ball ahead after a loose pass on halfway and beating Ealing full-back Paddy Gill to touchdown.

Unfazed, Ealing were soon ahead when centre Mark Tucker broke through some limp tackles to stroll in under the posts following a five-metre scrum. Ben Ward’s conversion made it 7-5.

Canterbury struck back almost immediately with centre Ben Thomas running in a try that fly-half Gerd De Kock converted.

Despite leading 12-7, Canterbury were struggling to contain Ealing’s threat and were consistently penalised in the ruck. Eventually referee Guy Steele-Bodger lost patience and showed Canterbury openside Nick McTaggart a yellow card.

Ealing were soon on level terms when Bruynseels crossed for his first try following a break by Neville Edwards to round off a sustained period of pressure.
Wing David Howells restored Ealing’s lead with a well taken try, beating four Canterbury defenders in a blistering run from half-way.

Ealing number eight Mark Lock rounded off the half with a try following a break by substitute Joe Price and an off-load by flanker Jay King to secure the bonus point and give the visitors a 22-12 lead at the interval.

Canterbury were reduced to 14 for the second time early in the second half when prop Matt Pinnick was shown yellow for a professional foul. Ealing capitalised immediately, electing for a scrum from the penalty and scrum-half Dan Smaje made light work of a two-on-one to send in Howells for his second. Ward added the extras to give Ealing a comfortable 29-12 lead.
Although they were dominating in all aspects of the game, Ealing were unable to finish off a number of gilt-edged chances and it took nearly 20 minutes to add to their score when Bruynseels dropped on a loose ball over the Canterbury goal line following another excellent run by Edwards.

The home side did manage a try after Ealing hooker Andrew Dalgleish was sent to the bin and De Kock kicked the conversion to close the gap to 34-19.
In the closing minutes Ealing raised their game again and scored two more tries, but it could have been more. First, Bruynseels completed his hat-trick following a sustained build up before Sungo Kuwana bulldozed over in the final act of the game.

Arthur Lewis

September 19, 2008