Blaydon 5 – Ealing Trailfinders 31

The Ealing juggernaut stormed into the new year with another comfortable 5 pointer and in the second half in particular appeared to score at will. Their pacey backs repeatedly broke tackles to put the home defence in retreat with centre Andrew Reay a constant threat with his sniping runs.

Up front it was a different story however as the Blaydon pack were more than a match for their counterparts and had good claims for a penalty try early on when Ealing twice pulled down a 5 metre scrum and incurred a yellow card.

Reay it was who scored the opener when completing a flowing move, and by the interval flanker Arthur Ellis had danced through for number two.

On 55 minutes Reay was in again but this time Blaydon quickly responded through Gavin Jones from a rolling maul. Just as quickly however Ealing were back down the other end for replacement Luke Daniels to score the bonus try.

Blaydon rallied again and twice put kickable penalties to the corner only to lose the line-out, and fittingly the visitors had the last word.

Another lightning raid from their own half was completed in style by Sam Wardingley, who had provided the pass for both the Reay efforts, and fly-half Ben Ward put over his third conversion.

Star man: Andrew Reay (Ealing)
Referee: Andrew Rawson
Attendance: 345
HT: 0-12 FT: 5-31

Scoring
Blaydon
Try: Jones 57.

Ealing Trailfinders
Tries: Reay 25,53, Ellis 38, Daniels 59, Wardingley 78
Conversions: Ward 38,55, 78.

Reporter: John Brennan