January 17, 2025
After football matches postponed for a waterlogged pitch, a frozen pitch and then fog, Fatbear finally got to see some live sport in 2025 !
Friday Night Lights have become very popular at Chinnor since the first fixture was held in January 2020, usually drawing substantially higher crowds than fixtures on a Saturday. Tonight was the 7th instalment of the Friday experiment and the second this season after the Not The Prem Cup match against Cambridge. Rams had been the opposition on three occasions and Rosslyn Park twice.
Tonight’s attendance was the second highest ever at Chinnor, only behind the 2,437 who attended the Rams match last season.
After a three-week break, round 11 of the Championship was being played this week as Chinnor looked to bounce back from an under-par performance at London Scottish, whilst leaders Ealing had been expected to dispatch back markers Caldy by more than the 55-26 final scoreline and so would be looking for an improvement.
Ealing Trailfinders
Ealing Rugby Club were founded in 1871 and were floating around in the London Divisions until Mike Gooley, owner of the Trailfinders Travel Agency company, started to invest in the club in 1999. Ealing worked their way up through the leagues and won National League One in 2012/13 to be promoted to the Championship. The stay in the second tier lasted only one season though as they finished bottom, but Ealing won National League One again to immediately return to the Championship for the 2015/16 season. Ealing have stayed there ever since.
The 2015/15 season was a struggle, and they ended up in 11th place, but they have a remarkable record since then. Ealing have won the Championship twice, in 2021/22 and last season, but were denied promotion to the Premiership on various unsuitability grounds, as the RFU invented spurious criteria to deny them promotion.
In between they were runners-up to the now defunct Jersey Reds. In 2020/21 Ealing finished top of the table at the end of the regular season but lost a play-off to Saracens. Prior to that Ealing came second in three consecutive seasons, each time to clubs relegated from the Premiership bouncing back at the first time of asking ( Newcastle, London Irish and Bristol ).
Home is the 5,000 capacity Trailfinders Sport Ground in West Ealing just off the A40 and is commonly referred to as Vallis Way, the road it is located in.
Despite being thwarted in their aspirations of playing in the Premiership, Mike Gooley continues to pump money into the club, with the accounts to June 30, 2024 showing that Trailfinder companies contributed £8.2M into the running of the club, to which income generated from rugby activities can be added. However, Ealing made a loss of 400K from a budget that dwarfed that of everyone else in the Championship.
Ealing Trailfinders This Season
Ealing came into tonight’s game leading the Championship by 12 points, ahead of Coventry, having won 9 times and lost once, and with a massive points difference of +315 after scoring 520 points in 10 matches.
Trailfinders had been particularly ruthless at home on their artificial surface against sides at the lower end of the table, thumping Ampthill ( 92-0 ), London Scottish ( 62-28 ) and Cambridge ( 95-7 ). More than 50 points were also racked up at home to Hartpury University ( 55-21 ) and Caldy ( 55-26 ).
Ealing had found it harder on the road, but had still managed to win all four matches played so far, winning at Cornish Pirates ( 29-24 ), Nottingham ( 36-21 ), Bedford ( 25-17 ) and Coventry ( 35-25 ). Chinnor’s hopes of hosting Ealing on a muddy pitch were confounded with the pitch today being in excellent condition !
Ealing’s one slip up came at home to Doncaster Knights, going down to a 35-36 defeat. With Chinnor beating Doncaster 18-13 when the lights went out, the Horse Racing handicapper would have Chinnor to win by 6 points. Unfortunately for Chinnor, Rugby doesn’t work like that, and Chinnor were facing their toughest assignment of the season so far !
In the Premiership Rugby Cup Ealing caused an upset by beating Saracens 29-19 at Vallis Way and then came close to winning against Harlequins at The Stoop before ultimately losing 33-38. Ealing’s third game before the competition took a break was a comfortable 36-5 victory at home to London Scottish.
At 976, Ealing’s average home attendance this season was only the 9th best in the division ( 1,135 in 2023/24 ). Despite their sustained success and excellence, the crowds are yet to flock to Vallis Way. In comparison, Chinnor were averaging 1,606, currently the third highest. However, Ealing did attract a crowd of 2,228 to see Saracens in the Prem Cup.
Ealing Squad
Ealing’s leading points scorer this season was ex-Scarlets fly half Dan Jones with 82 points, followed by ex-Newcastle Falcons fly-half Craig Willis with 65 points.
Hooker Matt Cornish, who returned to Trailfinders after London Irish went bust, was the leading try scorer on 9, followed by ex-Northampton wing Tom Collins and ex-Coventry full-back Tobi Wilson with 8 each.
Wing Angus Kernohan previously played for Ulster and ex-Saracens wing Ben Harris represented Great Britain in the Rugby Sevens at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Back-row forward Rayn Smid is South African and has played for Bristol, captain and hooker Mike Willemse is also from South Africa and has played for Edinburgh and London Irish, flanker Jordy Reid is from Australia and has played for Gloucester, whilst prop Akinbiyi Alo has played for Wasps, Worcester and Racing 92.
Centre Jordan Holgate is another South African and joined from Jersey Reds whilst fellow centre Francis Moore was signed from Saracens but played mostly for Ampthill and Bishop’s Stortford last season, but would have unhappy memories of his visit to Kingsey Road with Stortford as his team were beaten 10-80 !
Also from South Africa are props Kyle Whyte and Lefty Zigiriadis, lock Bobby de Wee and back row forward Siya Ningiza.
Also on Ealing’s books was ex-Cardiff Welsh international scrum half Lloyd Williams ( 32 caps ), but he was not involved today.
Previous Meetings
Chinnor and Ealing Trailfinders have met before, in National 3 South in 2008/09. Chinnor were beaten 26-46 in Ealing but caused a major upset in the return battling to a 20-13 victory. Ealing finished third that season, behind London Scottish, Rosslyn Park but ahead of Richmond. Chinnor were relegated after just one season at that level.
Chinnor and Ealing Connections
Over the years there has been a steady flow of players from Ealing to Chinnor, being a mixture of loans for players in search of playing time, short-term coverage for injuries, or season long loans for experience for youngsters, or players moving at the end of their full-time careers into part-time rugby.
This season Craig Hampson combines being Chinnor Head Coach under Director of Rugby Nick Easter whilst playing scrum half for Ealing. Centre Epi Rokodrava, lock George Shaw and backrow forward Geordie Irvine are on season long loans, and fly-half George Worboys played three games on a short-term loan after having played in 16 matches for Chinnor last season on loan from Bath.
Hooker Alun Walker, centre James Bourton and flanker Harry Dugmore were all Ealing players before signing for Chinnor. Number 8 Willie Ryan had a short loan spell from Ealing in 2017/18 but joined Chinnor on a permanent basis from Nottingham. Luke Carter also played for Ealing but joined Chinnor from London Scottish.
In the Ealing Squad for this season, in addition to Worboys, prop Eliot Chilvers, hooker Cam Terry, lock Ehize Ehizode and prop George Davis have all worn the Chinnor shirt in the past.
Matchday Information
The journey from Ealing to Thame is 40 miles and should normally take around 50 minutes down the A40 & M40.
The weather at the 19.45 kick-off was dry with a temperature of 4 degrees. The infamous Chinnor breeze was strangely absent so it didn’t feel so cold at the kick-off but it was decidedly chilly by the end of the game !
Adult tickets purchased online were £17 but £14 for members. For over £65s it was £13 and £12 for students. Prices at the gate were £19 for adults and £16 for members. With the member’s 10% discount, a pint of XT Session Amber was £4.95. An online programme had been produced in advance of today’s game.
Ealing made 8 changes to the XV that started against Caldy, with their matchday 23 including 6 South Africans, 5 of which were giant forwards, plus Australian Reid. Hampson started against the team he coaches, which must be some kind of record at this level, whilst Worboys was to be an unused substitute.
Chinnor made 5 changes to the side that lost to London Scottish. None of their Ealing loanees were available for selection but due to injuries only Irvine might have been under consideration to play.
Ealing were in a kit of all green with white trims whilst Chinnor were in their usual black and white hoops.
Match Report
Chinnor kicked-off towards the Showground end and Hampson cleared with a high kick. Chinnor fielded the kick and set up prop Tim Hoyt to show remarkable speed to burst through the midfield of the Ealing defence, and Chinnor spread the ball wide for wing Kieran Goss to run into the Ealing 22. Chinnor recycled the ball and Ealing infringed to give Chinnor a penalty just outside the 22 but in front of the posts. Chinnor opted to get onto the scoreboard, and Nick Smith’s kick was successful to make it 3-0 after 3 minutes.
Chinnor cleared the restart to halfway, and after Ealing won their lineout, a crash-ball move was defended leading to Hampson to again send the ball high into the skies, but Ealing knocked onto to give Chinnor the scrum. The referee awarded a penalty to Chinnor at the scrum after which the two packs started fighting, but it quickly petered out.
Chinnor’s bright start continued as Scott Hall won the line-out and Chinnor again released Goss on the wing but after the move was halted, Ealing won turnover ball enabling Hampson to kick high again. Feeney appeared to be taken out in the air whilst trying to make the catch, but the referee allowed play to continue, and despite a crunching tackle to end Ealing’s attack, the referee deemed it to be high and awarded a penalty to Trailfinders, which they kicked to the Chinnor 22.
Ealing enjoyed several phases which were well defended, but eventually the pressure forced a penalty, which was kicked to 5 metres. Ealing won their line-out and their rolling maul crossed near the corner flag, with hooker Willemse credited with the try. Willis added an excellent conversion from close to the touchline, so that the score was now 3-7 with 12 minutes played.
Chinnor were awarded a scrum following the restart, presumably for an Ealing knock-on but Ealing were awarded a free kick at the scrum for what looked like to be an early shove. Ealing kicked high where Feeney made an excellent catch and after Chinnor kicked possession back, the sequence was repeated with another catch under the high ball by Feeney, from which back-row forward Izzy Wharton made a break to the Ealing 10 metre line.
Chinnor had several phases until an attempted deft chip ahead was blocked. After Ealing gained possession, they launched a lightning counter attack but after entering the Chinnor 22, two important tackles resulted in Chinnor winning possession and clearing to the halfway line. Ealing attacked again and Chinnor were pinged for offside, from which Ealing were up to the Chinnor 22.
Ealing again won their line-out but the rolling maul was well defended, and a knock-on gave Chinnor a scrum close to their own tryline. However, Ealing won a penalty at the scrum and had a 5-metre lineout. The rolling maul was halted, as were several drives for the line, but then from a break from the base of the ruck Willis smartly offload to give Wilson a clear run for the line. Willis added the simple extras, so it was now 3-14 with 25 minutes on the clock.
Ealing knocked on again at the ruck following the restart but were able to wheel to scrum leading to a reset, from which Ealing won another scrum penalty to take play back to the Chinnor 22.
Ealing spread the ball from their line-out but another knock on gave a scrum to Chinnor but Ealing were awarded a free kick after the put in. Ealing took a quick tap and made several drives deep towards the Chinnor line. The ball was dropped but it went backwards, and in the confusion, Harris gathered the ball and scooted over the line for Ealing’s third try. Willis again added a straightforward conversion, so Ealing now led 21-3 with 34 minutes played.
Ealing kicked the restart to their 10-metre line, and this time Chinnor won their line-out and after a chip over the advancing Ealing backline, Chinnor knocked on to give Ealing a scrum midway inside their half. Unexpectedly, Hampson made a break from the base of the scrum rather than kicking and Ealing had another dangerous attack, but a loose pass led to a scrum to Chinnor, which was a mess. Ealing claimed the ball when it appeared and spread to their right but in his attempt to make a tackle, Goss knocked the ball forward. It might have been a deliberate knock on but the referee gave the Chinnor winger the benefit of the doubt and kept his card in his pocket and awarded just a penalty to Ealing.
From the subsequent 5 metre lineout it looked like Ealing must score but the attack was held up to give Chinnor a dropout from behind their tryline. Ealing ran back into the Chinnor 22, but another loose pass bounced into touch. Chinnor ‘s line out was thrown too long and Ealing again had possession, and although their backs showed some nice hands in passing out wide, yet another loose pass went into touch.
With 6 minutes of first half added time being played, Ealing won yet another Chinnor lineout but knocked on at the ruck, at which point the referee blew for half-time.
After a brief strong start from Chinnor, Ealing had totally dominated play with their forwards excellent at the scrums and lineouts, but sloppy handling from their much-vaunted backs had kept the score down, although credit was due to Chinnor for their defensive work forcing so many errors. Ealing had perhaps shown Chinnor some respect by their cautious kicking game in the early stages but had been wasteful when trying to be expansive.
Chinnor started the second half well, with substitute Morgan Passman making a neat offload to give Goss a chance to run, which Ealing illegally stopped, and the penalty took play to the Ealing 22. Chinnor won a rare lineout but after several drives and good defence from Ealing a knock-on gave Ealing a scrum, from which predictably they won a penalty.
Ealing kicked from the lineout after which both sides engaged in some kick tennis before Ealing attacked out wide, but Moore was stopped by a fabulous tackle from Crowley. Ealing launched wave after wave of attacks, but the Chinnor defence was good, and eventually a penalty was awarded to the home side.
A sneaky line-out saw Hall catch at the front of the lineout, and substitute scrum half Callum Pascoe and hooker Walker both made mini-breaks down the blindside, but Ealing forced the turnover. A high kick was claimed by a Chinnor player and it appeared that Ealing had gone over the top at the ruck but the penalty went to the visitors, presumably for not releasing ?
Ealing kicked to 5 metres but surprisingly threw too long giving Chinnor the opportunity to run from close to their line and Ealing were pinged for offside. Ealing again won the Chinnor throw but it was scrappy and Chinnor had another lineout which this time they won, but an ambitious pass in midfield coughed up possession to Ealing, but again they passed directly into touch.
At this point Ealing decided to have a mass clearance of their bench as 4 players entered the fray !
Chinnor predictably lost another lineout, but the Ealing tap was loose and they were penalised for offside as both sides fought for possession. Chinnor kicked to the Ealing 22 but depressingly for the Chinnor faithful failed again to win their lineout, and Ealing kicked up to their 10 metre line.
Finally, Chinnor won a lineout and made a decent break, but Ealing defended well, but after a kick ahead by Pascoe, Ealing knocked on to give Chinnor a scrum midway inside the Ealing half. Unexpectedly, Chinnor won a scrum penalty and took a quick tap and Hughes looked to have broken through the Ealing defence to have a clear run to the line, but the referee had spotted some crossing and pulled play back for a penalty to Ealing.
60 minutes were now on the clock but Ealing’s attempted kick deep into the Chinnor 22 failed to find touch as Watson kept the ball in play and cleared to touch. Ealing won their lineout to keep the pressure on the home side but Ealing infringed at the ruck, and then Chinnor won another penalty at the scrum.
However, Trailfinders won the Chinnor lineout on halfway and after Chinnor returned the kick ahead, Ealing launched a dangerous attack, and a forward pass gave Wilson a simple run to the tryline. It’s one Fatbear’s favourite bugbears that obvious forward passes are allowed these days and there will no doubt be several this weekend that will be awarded, and Chinnor will benefit at some point in the season, but it still grates ! Willis added a superb conversion from close to the touchline to extend Ealing’s lead to 28-3 with 66 minutes played.
Ealing kicked the restart high back to Chinnor and Crowley made a brave catch and appeared to be high tackled. As this occurred in front of both benches there was a lot of noise from the sidelines, but play continued before Chinnor were awarded a penalty, although it was Ealing’s Will Montgomery who needed treatment. Amidst much confusion it appeared that the high tackle had been penalised after playing an advantage, and Montgomery had been shown a yellow card as he was helped off the pitch.
With the extra man advantage, it was now a different game as Chinnor were awarded a succession of penalties and started winning their lineouts. Chinnor were camped inside the Ealing 22 and thought they had barged over from a rolling maul but the referee said no, but awarded another penalty to Chinnor resulting in another mini-flare up.
The penalties continued to mount up but despite the numerous infringements, the referee declined to show any further yellow cards to the Londoners.
After another lineout victory, Chinnor pressed on the Ealing line but eventually they looked up and went wide, and a superb long floated pass gave Watson a free run to the corner for a consolation try for Chinnor. The conversion from Pascoe sailed wide but it was now 8-21 with 78 minutes played.
Ealing applied some pressure in the closing minutes, but Watson called for the mark after fielding a high kick but a penalty advantage had been played, from which Ealing gratefully kicked the ball out of play to end the game and seal their bonus point victory.
Prior to the match, Fatbear’s expectation was that Ealing’s backline would present the main danger and that after their performances against the division’s leading lights Chinnor’s forwards would achieve parity. As it turned out, it was Ealing’s forwards that were instrumental in winning the game for their side, with their dominance of scrums and lineout forcing Chinnor to rely on scraps of possession until the mass substitutions, which seemed to weaken the Ealing pack, and increase Chinnor’s lineout options. However, the failure of the Ealing backs to shine could have been down to the pressure applied by the Chinnor defence forcing the numerous handling errors.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQh37qRA4M4
Great report.
ReplyDeleteGreat read! It was is I was there!
ReplyDelete