Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 5, 2022 10:20:53 GMT
Ealing Trailfinders preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 1, Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights, Trailfinders Sports Ground on Saturday 10th September. KO
The Knights have the toughest opening game of any Championship team as they start their campaign, away against last season’s Championship winners Ealing Trailfinders. They are only not playing in the Premiership this season because Trailfinders Sports Ground’s capacity is less than 10 000. Premiership supporter minimum entry numner is rumoured to be reduced to 5 000 after this season. They are odds-on-favourites to win the Championship again. Big-spending Yorkshireman and ex-SAS soldier Sir Mike Gooley is estimated have has pumped around £20m into the club by February last year and there’s much more where that came from.
Trailfinders played four pre-season games, first up was a trip to the South of France, with against Biarritz Olympique at the Parc des Sports d’Aguilera on Thursday 18th August. Ealing Trailfinders were narrowly beaten at the death in Biarritz after the hosts slotted a 50m penalty to win 22-21.
Then another away game but much closer to home, against National League 1 club Rosslyn Park on Saturday 20th August. Ealing Trailfinders returned 26-57 winners over Park at The Rock.
Six days later they nipped across the Capital again to play Richmond and returned winners by 26-35 points.
Finally, a major challenge at Trailfinders Sports Club against Italian United Rugby Championship (URC) team Zebre Parma on Saturday 3rd September. Trailfinders came away convincing 42-12 victors. URC is an annual rugby union competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales.
Trailfinders that have travelled to Vallis Way
Allegedly Mike Gooley has recently spent the £5M earmarked to buy the necessary shares for entry into the Premiership on the recruitment of Premiership-quality players for this season. No other Championship club can spend anywhere near that amount and so rely on the quality of coaching and a collective team strength to overcome such talented individuals. Bodes has long punched above his weight or spend on players regarding the amount spent on players at Doncaster Knights compared to their performance, long may this continue starting on Saturday.
Trailfinders have easily recruited the most ex-Premiership players to the Championship with seven:
• Ollie Fox, Scrum Half from Bath Rugby
• Harry Casson, Lock from Bath Rugby
• Dan Lancaster, Fly Half/Centre from Leicester Tigers
• Rob Farrar, Back Row from Newcastle Falcons
• Will Montgomery, Back Row from Newcastle Falcons
• Ollie Newman, Back Row from Northampton Saints
• Jack Metcalf, Utility Back from Sale
Plus.
• Peter Robb, Centre from Connacht in the Pro14
• Jonah Holmes, Back 3 (Wing/Fullback), Wales International from Dragons Welsh regional side
• Jack Grant, Scrum Half from Super Rugby side New South Wales Waratahs
Fly Half Steven Shingler was made the new Club Captain for the 2022/23 season, taking over from Back Row Rayn Smid. The Knights will hope that these ten new signings from teams that play a higher standard than the English Championship will not have had time to gel.
Last time out
Doncaster Knights were in strong form at Castle Park as it took until the 80th minute for Newcastle to get the better of the home team to sneak the 29-33 win. Their try was scored by Adam Radwan, the quickest man in English rugby according to the Times.
The Knights’ first try was after the was spun wide to Maliq Holden for the winger to dodge the covering tackle and score in the corner. George Simpson grounded the ball on the other wing just before half time after he collected a grubber kick. Doncaster lock John Kelly ploughed over from a close-range pick and go for the Knights’ third try. Slick handling starting with Harry Davey collecting the ball, through six pairs of hands to see Robbie Smith rounding off a fabulous team try in the right corner
To work on is the Knights’ use of, and defence of, lineout catch and drive will no doubt focus the mind of Bodes this week.
When Trailfinder beat Zebre Parma, the try-scorers were Scrum Half Craig Hampson (28th min), Back Three Luke Daniels (43rd min), 2nd Row Bobby De Wee (53rd min), Hooker Jan-Henning Campher (65th min), Centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch (73rd min, 80th min).
Other games happening in the Championship this weekend:
Ampthill V Jersey Reds
Caldy V Hartpury University
Cornish Pirates V Richmond
Coventry V Bedford Blues
London Scottish V Nottingham
The result of our game will gain the most attention as it is last season’s top v last season’s second finishers.
Before the Falcons preview the Knights signed Fly-Half Alec Lloyd-Seed from Exeter University Rugby in the BUCS Super Rugby. (British Universities & Colleges Sport; the highest level of men's university rugby in Britain).
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 1, Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights, Trailfinders Sports Ground on Saturday 10th September. KO
The Knights have the toughest opening game of any Championship team as they start their campaign, away against last season’s Championship winners Ealing Trailfinders. They are only not playing in the Premiership this season because Trailfinders Sports Ground’s capacity is less than 10 000. Premiership supporter minimum entry numner is rumoured to be reduced to 5 000 after this season. They are odds-on-favourites to win the Championship again. Big-spending Yorkshireman and ex-SAS soldier Sir Mike Gooley is estimated have has pumped around £20m into the club by February last year and there’s much more where that came from.
Trailfinders played four pre-season games, first up was a trip to the South of France, with against Biarritz Olympique at the Parc des Sports d’Aguilera on Thursday 18th August. Ealing Trailfinders were narrowly beaten at the death in Biarritz after the hosts slotted a 50m penalty to win 22-21.
Then another away game but much closer to home, against National League 1 club Rosslyn Park on Saturday 20th August. Ealing Trailfinders returned 26-57 winners over Park at The Rock.
Six days later they nipped across the Capital again to play Richmond and returned winners by 26-35 points.
Finally, a major challenge at Trailfinders Sports Club against Italian United Rugby Championship (URC) team Zebre Parma on Saturday 3rd September. Trailfinders came away convincing 42-12 victors. URC is an annual rugby union competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales.
Trailfinders that have travelled to Vallis Way
Allegedly Mike Gooley has recently spent the £5M earmarked to buy the necessary shares for entry into the Premiership on the recruitment of Premiership-quality players for this season. No other Championship club can spend anywhere near that amount and so rely on the quality of coaching and a collective team strength to overcome such talented individuals. Bodes has long punched above his weight or spend on players regarding the amount spent on players at Doncaster Knights compared to their performance, long may this continue starting on Saturday.
Trailfinders have easily recruited the most ex-Premiership players to the Championship with seven:
• Ollie Fox, Scrum Half from Bath Rugby
• Harry Casson, Lock from Bath Rugby
• Dan Lancaster, Fly Half/Centre from Leicester Tigers
• Rob Farrar, Back Row from Newcastle Falcons
• Will Montgomery, Back Row from Newcastle Falcons
• Ollie Newman, Back Row from Northampton Saints
• Jack Metcalf, Utility Back from Sale
Plus.
• Peter Robb, Centre from Connacht in the Pro14
• Jonah Holmes, Back 3 (Wing/Fullback), Wales International from Dragons Welsh regional side
• Jack Grant, Scrum Half from Super Rugby side New South Wales Waratahs
Fly Half Steven Shingler was made the new Club Captain for the 2022/23 season, taking over from Back Row Rayn Smid. The Knights will hope that these ten new signings from teams that play a higher standard than the English Championship will not have had time to gel.
Last time out
Doncaster Knights were in strong form at Castle Park as it took until the 80th minute for Newcastle to get the better of the home team to sneak the 29-33 win. Their try was scored by Adam Radwan, the quickest man in English rugby according to the Times.
The Knights’ first try was after the was spun wide to Maliq Holden for the winger to dodge the covering tackle and score in the corner. George Simpson grounded the ball on the other wing just before half time after he collected a grubber kick. Doncaster lock John Kelly ploughed over from a close-range pick and go for the Knights’ third try. Slick handling starting with Harry Davey collecting the ball, through six pairs of hands to see Robbie Smith rounding off a fabulous team try in the right corner
To work on is the Knights’ use of, and defence of, lineout catch and drive will no doubt focus the mind of Bodes this week.
When Trailfinder beat Zebre Parma, the try-scorers were Scrum Half Craig Hampson (28th min), Back Three Luke Daniels (43rd min), 2nd Row Bobby De Wee (53rd min), Hooker Jan-Henning Campher (65th min), Centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch (73rd min, 80th min).
Other games happening in the Championship this weekend:
Ampthill V Jersey Reds
Caldy V Hartpury University
Cornish Pirates V Richmond
Coventry V Bedford Blues
London Scottish V Nottingham
The result of our game will gain the most attention as it is last season’s top v last season’s second finishers.
Before the Falcons preview the Knights signed Fly-Half Alec Lloyd-Seed from Exeter University Rugby in the BUCS Super Rugby. (British Universities & Colleges Sport; the highest level of men's university rugby in Britain).
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
