In a game of fine margins, Ealing Trailfinders 1871 snatched a 26-19 victory over Harpenden with a converted try with the last move of the match. It means they leapfrog their previously unbeaten opponents into second place in the table after five games. Despite the driving rain brought by Storm Boelo, the two teams fought out a high-quality encounter in which the powerful Ealing pack were more than a match for their heavy opposite numbers.
Ealing made a typically strong start thanks to a clean catch from the kick-off and a teasing kick downfield by flyhalf Harry Vidler. After strong forward drives, quick recycling nearly led to an early score, only for a low pass and slippery ball to result in a knock-on with the line begging. The visitors from Hertfordshire made the most of the reprieve with a fine try a few minutes into the game against the run of play through their fullback Luke Boynes, who looped around the right wing and took a well-timed scoring pass.
Having elected to play into the teeth of the strong wind in the first half, 1871 dominated the set pieces and loose play. They were rewarded after 12 minutes when left wing Carlos Duarte beat Harpenden's defence to a deftly placed kick to the corner by Vidler, who landed a the conversion from out wide.
Harpenden re-took the lead with a well-fashioned try created by their outside centre from a solid scrum and finished by the ever-dangerous Boynes, who added the straightforward conversion. Ealing took just four minutes to respond with a well-worked penalty lineout catch and drive that was finished by hooker Luke Parry.
As the half drew to a close, Boynes had to leave the field after suffering an injury sustained while desperately trying to field a loose bouncing ball in a dangerous position, and he took no further part in the game.
Ealing could feel satisfied to turn around at parity after facing the elements, but the second period proved to be just as tightly contested as the first. Vidler repeatedly pinned the visitors back, and the outstanding Ealing pack pounded the try line on numerous occasions but were held up by well-organised defence.
The third quarter of the game remained scoreless until Vidler produced a moment of magic, drilling a 50-22 kick down the left. Second row Nyall Wake took a clean catch and Harpenden were unable to stop the momentum of the driven maul. Loose-head prop Leo Codrington-Lambert touched down, and Vidler converted to leave Ealing 19-12 ahead. The visitors drove from an attacking lineout of their own 10 minutes later, then released the ball to their backline who burst through in the centre for a try between the posts, duly converted.
Shared spoils looked the likely outcome with two resolute defences, but 1871 went on the offensive in the closing minutes on the offensive. A pass was dropped, to give Ealing one last chance of snatching victory. Toby Holt picked up at No 8, and Parry was on hand to burrow over for his second score of the day, to secure an extra league point with the four-try bonus.
Ealing 1871 second XV lost their first match of the season, 65-21 away to Harrow. After they struggled in the first half, they tweaked their tactics and improved after the break.
Kimani Goppy, Logan Flint, and Jack Feeney impressed and Ayo Opaleye marked his debut with a try.
Ealing 1871 third XV pushed local rivals Hanwell close, but fell narrowly short in a 24-14 defeat. Second row Tom Parker, Ollie Wilson, and Kyle Geddis impressed, while Ash Spencer and Rod ‘the Colonel’ Heffernan showed that age is no barrier to bleeding green.