Post by Jamie Crawford on Feb 21, 2022 10:07:24 GMT
Ealing Trailfinders preview
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Round 20, Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights, Trailfinder Sports Ground, Vallis Way 26th February, KO 2:30 pm
Background to the game
Trailfinders remain favourites to take the Championship title, only they and Doncaster Knights have applied to the RFU for promotion. According to the Mail on Sunday on 20th February, both teams are yet to hear from the RFU if their applications are successful.
The Premiership is set to expand to 14 teams in the 2022/23 season but neither side is prepared to buy Premiership shares if they gain promotion. Therefore, promotion to the Premiership may be decided off the field by the end of February.
Recent head to head performances
Earlier this season the Knights played extremely well to beat the then league-leaders, Trailfinders 22-5. A similar performance is required this Saturday, not like the last couple of games that saw them scrape through with the last throw of the dice. Previously in May last year, Trailfinders won 38-15 at Vallis Way. The earlier encounter in March 2020 was covid-cancelled and in November 2019 Trailfinders returned to London rejoicing after winning 9-24 at Castle Park.
Last time out
Trailfinders won a tough game in Jersey, overpowering the Reds 10-22 in a game that had Jersey with a one-point half time lead. Trailfinders scored six points in just over ten minutes from Red indiscretions early in the second half. Hooker Jan Campher scored Trailfinders’ only try compared to two scored by the Reds, Trailfinders converted theirs plus slotted five penalties to the Reds’ none. The Reds won the game on try count but gave away three times their score (fifteen points) on misdemeanours.
The Knights played a game that both teams found a bit of a slog at a muddy and showering Castle Park. The lead swapped a couple of times in the low-scoring match with Hartpury University Rugby Club having a two-point lead after 80 minutes. With the clock in the red Sam Olver took a penalty kick under immense pressure. Sam was not found lacking and duly split the uprights to score three points to win the game 11-10.
Trailfinder danger men
Trailfinder fly half Craig Willis (Championship’s current seventh highest points scorer) slotted three penalties in the second half against Jersey, including one from halfway, taking advantage of the strong wind behind them.
After dotting down 12 tries, back row Simon Uzokwe has scored the third highest number of tries in the Championship this season, Jan Campher is sixth after scoring nine tries, as has back row Rayn Smid. Winger Charles Walker has scored seven tries and back row Shaun Malton has scored six.
Put another way, on average Uzokwe has not scored on only three games this season.
Ex-Donny prop until 2011 Lewis Thied is reputedly an experienced powerhouse. Thied was born in Donny and has had Premiership experience with seasons spent at Wasps and two seasons at Bristol Bears between sandwiched between two seasons at Trailfinders.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Playing outstanding rugby and only being beaten three times from fifteen games. To have five players that have all scored within the top twenty number of tries after just fifteen games when more than half of the Championship have played two more games is remarkable. Trailfinders can attack and score from anywhere on the pitch.
Saturday’s game
Arguably the game of the season with only three league matches remaining as first-placed Doncaster Knights face second-placed Ealing Trailfinders in their back yard. Trailfinders have crested the Championship table for most of the season but now the Knights want to stay there until the end and gain promotion to the Premiership.
Trailfinders have scored more points home or away than any other team but the Cornish Pirates and Doncaster Knights have conceded fewer points at home this season. Additionally, Vallis Way is not an impregnable fortress, Trailfinders were beaten there 19-31 by Bedford Blues on 12th February.
The rest of the Championship
Saturday
Doncaster Knights (1) v Ealing Trailfinders (2, 2 games in hand)
Hartpury (5) v Ampthill (7)
Coventry (9, 1 game in hand) v London Scottish (11)
Sunday
Cornish Pirates (3, 2 games in hand) v Jersey Reds (4) in their ‘derby game’
Nottingham (10, 1 game in hand) v Bedford Blues (6)
Richmond BYE
The Knights are three points above Ealing, a Knights win would see them remain at the summit of the Championship.
If Ealing win, they will leapfrog us back to the top. However, if they achieve a four-point win and we receive a losing bonus point, the Knights will remain surfing the crest of the table because both teams will have equal points but the Knights have won more games. The Knights are masters of their own destiny, the only other score that matters is if the Pirates beat the Reds with a bonus point, they would also catapult above the Knights.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 20, Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights, Trailfinder Sports Ground, Vallis Way 26th February, KO 2:30 pm
Background to the game
Trailfinders remain favourites to take the Championship title, only they and Doncaster Knights have applied to the RFU for promotion. According to the Mail on Sunday on 20th February, both teams are yet to hear from the RFU if their applications are successful.
The Premiership is set to expand to 14 teams in the 2022/23 season but neither side is prepared to buy Premiership shares if they gain promotion. Therefore, promotion to the Premiership may be decided off the field by the end of February.
Recent head to head performances
Earlier this season the Knights played extremely well to beat the then league-leaders, Trailfinders 22-5. A similar performance is required this Saturday, not like the last couple of games that saw them scrape through with the last throw of the dice. Previously in May last year, Trailfinders won 38-15 at Vallis Way. The earlier encounter in March 2020 was covid-cancelled and in November 2019 Trailfinders returned to London rejoicing after winning 9-24 at Castle Park.
Last time out
Trailfinders won a tough game in Jersey, overpowering the Reds 10-22 in a game that had Jersey with a one-point half time lead. Trailfinders scored six points in just over ten minutes from Red indiscretions early in the second half. Hooker Jan Campher scored Trailfinders’ only try compared to two scored by the Reds, Trailfinders converted theirs plus slotted five penalties to the Reds’ none. The Reds won the game on try count but gave away three times their score (fifteen points) on misdemeanours.
The Knights played a game that both teams found a bit of a slog at a muddy and showering Castle Park. The lead swapped a couple of times in the low-scoring match with Hartpury University Rugby Club having a two-point lead after 80 minutes. With the clock in the red Sam Olver took a penalty kick under immense pressure. Sam was not found lacking and duly split the uprights to score three points to win the game 11-10.
Trailfinder danger men
Trailfinder fly half Craig Willis (Championship’s current seventh highest points scorer) slotted three penalties in the second half against Jersey, including one from halfway, taking advantage of the strong wind behind them.
After dotting down 12 tries, back row Simon Uzokwe has scored the third highest number of tries in the Championship this season, Jan Campher is sixth after scoring nine tries, as has back row Rayn Smid. Winger Charles Walker has scored seven tries and back row Shaun Malton has scored six.
Put another way, on average Uzokwe has not scored on only three games this season.
Ex-Donny prop until 2011 Lewis Thied is reputedly an experienced powerhouse. Thied was born in Donny and has had Premiership experience with seasons spent at Wasps and two seasons at Bristol Bears between sandwiched between two seasons at Trailfinders.
Team strengths and weaknesses
Playing outstanding rugby and only being beaten three times from fifteen games. To have five players that have all scored within the top twenty number of tries after just fifteen games when more than half of the Championship have played two more games is remarkable. Trailfinders can attack and score from anywhere on the pitch.
Saturday’s game
Arguably the game of the season with only three league matches remaining as first-placed Doncaster Knights face second-placed Ealing Trailfinders in their back yard. Trailfinders have crested the Championship table for most of the season but now the Knights want to stay there until the end and gain promotion to the Premiership.
Trailfinders have scored more points home or away than any other team but the Cornish Pirates and Doncaster Knights have conceded fewer points at home this season. Additionally, Vallis Way is not an impregnable fortress, Trailfinders were beaten there 19-31 by Bedford Blues on 12th February.
The rest of the Championship
Saturday
Doncaster Knights (1) v Ealing Trailfinders (2, 2 games in hand)
Hartpury (5) v Ampthill (7)
Coventry (9, 1 game in hand) v London Scottish (11)
Sunday
Cornish Pirates (3, 2 games in hand) v Jersey Reds (4) in their ‘derby game’
Nottingham (10, 1 game in hand) v Bedford Blues (6)
Richmond BYE
The Knights are three points above Ealing, a Knights win would see them remain at the summit of the Championship.
If Ealing win, they will leapfrog us back to the top. However, if they achieve a four-point win and we receive a losing bonus point, the Knights will remain surfing the crest of the table because both teams will have equal points but the Knights have won more games. The Knights are masters of their own destiny, the only other score that matters is if the Pirates beat the Reds with a bonus point, they would also catapult above the Knights.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
