Ealing Trailfinders begin their 2024/25 season with a stylish pre-season 45-31 victory over Cardiff Rugby at Trailfinders Sports Club.
A hat-trick from Mike Willemse along with tries from Michael Dykes, Matt Cornish, Francis Moore and George Worboys led the West Londoners to a statement win over a top-flight side.
After a long three month period off, Ealing Trailfinders came right out of the blocks firing with a set piece move off a lineout. Angus Kernohan looked to be in at the corner, but the referee pulled the play back for a forward pass; however, it was a promising start for the Trailfinders.
It was a cagey opening ten following the early Trailfinders opportunity. However, the Welsh side were the first to chart an actual score with some well-worked handling out wide, allowing Gabriel Hamer-Webb to dive in at the corner.
Trailfinders responded positively shortly after. A Cardiff mistake on the restart allowed the hosts in the danger zone, and a quick tap from Stronge allowed Dykes to dot the ball down in the corner, with Craig Willis adding the extras.
The visitors hit back with a flashy try of their own with a chip-and-chase finish from early replacement Steffan Emanuel.
The tries kept coming at Trailfinders levelled the score with Cornish burrowing his way to the line after Trailfinders sliced through the Cardiff line from the lineout.
The Cardiff pack showed their strength for the next score with a driving maul, putting Ealing Trailfinders on the back foot on their own try line, and eventually, scrum-half Johan Mulder sniped around the fringe for the try.
Half-Time – Ealing Trailfinders 12-17 Cardiff Rugby
The second period got underway, and the visitors struck almost immediately after some loose play allowed them to play into a broken field, and centre Harri Millard went over for the try.
Trailfinders found themselves two scores behind and needed to produce something to stay in the game. Eventually, it was replacement Willemse who broke away from the driving maul and found his way over the line.
The Welsh side were fortunate for their next try. Worboys almost made an interception; however, the ball went forward, allowing Cardiff to enter a broken field and execute the two-on-one, and Hamer-Webb went in for his second.
Whilst the game was tries galore, Trailfinders made a special defensive effort to deny another Cardiff score, with Rayn Smid earning a vital turnover on the five-metre line.
They marched themselves back down the pitch, and after some heavy-duty work from the pack, Willemse went over at the tail for another try.
Ealing Trailfinders built some momentum following that try. Only a score behind, they were determined to put on a performance for the home crowd. With the penalty advantage, Moore hit a hard line and put Trailfinders into the lead.
The game was fully with Trailfinders; a kick-and-chase downfield earned them a penalty and another entry into the Cardiff 22’. With the driving maul, Willemse powered over at the tail for his hat trick!
Ealing Trailfinders had entered a state of flow and finished the game in beautiful style with a flick pass out the back for Worboys to finish off the try in the corner and earn the win.
Full-Time – Ealing Trailfinders 45-31 Cardiff Rugby
Trailfinders Tries- Dykes 15, Cornish 29, Willemse 50, 66, 76 Moore 71, Worboys 79
Conversions- Willis 16, 51, Worboys, 66, 72, 80
Cardiff Tries-Hamer Webb 12, 56, Emanuel 25, Mulder 31, Millard 41
Conversions- Thomas 26, 42, 57
