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Ealing Trailfinders 84

Cornish Pirates 29

25 January, 2025

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League / Cup

Championship Rugby Round 12

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Trailfinders Sports Club

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Ealing Trailfinders 84

Away

Cornish Pirates 29

Phil Westren

Following their 34-10 defeat at Hartpury the previous weekend, things were never going to get any easier for the Cornish Pirates away against clear league leaders Ealing Trailfinders, and so it proved.

Considering certain unavailability for various reasons, it was quite simply no surprise that the team suffered a hefty defeat in this Round 12 Championship encounter, although there was genuine credit for securing a four try bonus point.

The Cornish Pirates made a raft of changes, including partly because their trio of on loan squad members from the Trailfinders, namely backrower Tomiwa Agbongbon, lock Matt Cannon, and centre Harry Yates, were not permitted to play against their parent club.

In the backs, Iwan Price-Thomas was named at full-back, with Will Trewin moving to the wing, whilst fit again Joe Elderkin partnered Charlie McCaig in the centre and Iwan Jenkins made his first league start of the season at fly-half.

In the forwards, tight-head prop Alfie Petch was back on loan from Gloucester, for whom he featured in their Challenge Cup encounter in Bayonne last time out, and Alfie Bell, a debutant off the bench against Hartpury, partnered Fintan Coleman in the second row. Sol Moody was selected at hooker, Harry Hocking moved to the back row, and ready for debut action was replacement Matt Pritchard, a recent signing from Redruth. A late change, because of injury, was the withdrawal of flanker Alex Everett, which meant that replacement Josh King started, with Tom Georgiou coming in on the bench.

On a calm late January afternoon at Vallis Way, with conditions perfect for playing rugby football, the Trailfinders got off to an impressive start. No. 8 Will Montgomery, a former Newcastle ‘Falcon’ scored twice, his second try touched down to end a 30-metre run to the line. Both efforts were converted by fly-half Dan Jones.

In response the Pirates were quick to react when an opportunity arose, leading to skipper Hugh Bokenham scoring a try at the posts which was converted by fly-half Iwan Jenkins. However, Ealing wasted no time to score another converted try, this time through their industrious South African former Gloucester backrower Jordy Reid.

Further sound play from the Pirates did though earn its reward, with a try scored by flanker Harry Hocking, but the Trailfinders secured their bonus point fourth when swift passing by their halfbacks led to a converted try for full-back Tobi Wilson.

The impressive Ealing side was clearly dominant in the period to halftime, displaying power, pace, and accuracy. They scored three more tries through lock Bobby de Wee, a hat-trick score by Montgomery, and one from wing Ben Harris. All were converted by the faultless Jones to make it 49-12.

Passing the 50 mark was clearly going to be a formality for the home side, but the Pirates also displayed determination as centre Joe Elderkin and hooker Sol Moody looked to make dents in the Ealing defence. A chip over the top by Jenkins and gather by centre Charlie McCaig also showed promise, but a refreshed Ealing, with replacements introduced including former ‘Pirate’ favourite Lefty Zigiaridis, led to Great Britain 7s Olympian Harris scoring a converted try once again.

Sharp play from Pirates’ winger Will Trewin ended with a pass to the supporting Jenkins, who scored out wide, as the team now had an important fourth try in focus. Delivering the same was put on hold whilst the Trailfinders delayed matters by scoring converted tries through prop George Davis and flanker David Bridge, who made two appearances for the Pirates on loan last season, but the sought after Pirates try was forthcoming when replacement hooker Matt Pritchard slipped off a maul to score on the blindside corner. Replacement fly-half Bruce Houston also added the extra two points.

Three minutes later another player introduced off the bench, in the shape of prop Ollie Andrews, did very well as he dummied and made it to the line. However, Ealing had the last say when Davis notched up his second try in the match, and replacement scrum half Lloyd Williams, a former Wales international, ran in from 40 metres. Both tries were converted by replacement fly-half Craig Willis, as he had Bridge’s score. In the process it also made an impressive 12 from 12 off the tee – nine for Jones and three for Willis.

Speaking at the end of the game, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“It could be deemed a humbling experience when you see the final score but our fightback to achieve a bonus point was admirable.

 

“Our preparation and aim at the beginning of the week was to score four tries, remembering too that we have been beaten by less here before and have come away with nothing. Today, there was considerable credit, in that we achieved the bonus point and actually scored five tries.

 

“Playing with passion and grit, and led by Hugh Bokenham, who was outstanding again, the boys just got on with what was always going to be a tough challenge. Credit was also due Josh King, who was a warrior out there.”

 

Gavin added:

 

“Overall, I am proud of the effort displayed, noting also and not forgetting that Matt Pritchard was making his debut, and Alfie Bell and Fintan Coleman have only recently arrived.

 

“Having to chop and change the pack is not ideal, so there was credit to the boys for just admirably getting on with it, and against a gifted side which has real strength in depth.”

 

Ealing Trailfinders:   15 Tobi Wilson (23 Francis Moore, 40) 14 Ben Harris 13 Reuben Bird-Tulloch 12 Jordan Holgate 11 Michael Dykes 10 Dan Jones (22 Craig Willis, 60) 9 Craig Hampson (21 Lloyd Williams, 61); 1 Kyle Whyte (17 Lefty Zigiriadis, 44) 2 Mike Willemse (captain; 16 Cam Terry, 44) 3 George Davis (18 Biyi Alo, 44; 3 George Davis, 49) 4 Bobby de Wee 5 Sean Lonsdale (19 Matas Jurevicius, 31) 6 David Bridge 7 Jordy Reid 8 Will Montgomery (20 Siya Ningiza, 56)

Yellow card:   14 Ben Harris (73)

 

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas (23 Robin Wedlake, 45) 14 Arthur Relton 13 Charlie McCaig (20 Tom Georgiou, 65) 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Will Trewin 10 Iwan Jenkins (22 Bruce Houston, 59) 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Cam Jones, 52); 1 Billy Young (17 James French, 67) 2 Sol Moody (16 Matt Pritchard, 61) 3 Alfie Petch (18 Ollie Andrews, 61) 4 Alfie Bell 5 Fintan Coleman 6 Josh King 7 Harry Hocking (19 Chris Mills, 61) 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain)

 

Scorers:

 

Ealing Trailfinders – tries: 8 Will Montgomery (5, 7, 36) 7 Jordy Reid (19) 4 Bobby de Wee (26) 15 Tobi Wilson (24) 14 Ben Harris (38, 50) 3 George Davis (58, 77) 6 David Bridge (61); cons: 10 Dan Jones (6, 8, 20, 25, 27, 37, 39, 51, 59) 22 Craig Willis (62, 77, 80) 21 Lloyd Williams (79)

 

Cornish Pirates – 8 Hugh Bokenham (14) 7 Harry Hocking (21) 10 Iwan Jenkins (55) 18 Ollie Andrews 16 Matt Pritchard (71); cons: 10 Iwan Jenkins (15) 22 Bruce Houston (72)

 

Referee:   Joe James (RFU)

 

Assistants:   Ian Kiy & Mike Woods

 

Attendance:   2712

Match Officials

Referee:

Joe James

AR1:

Iain Kiy

AR2:

Mike Woods