Post by Jamie Crawford on Sept 18, 2023 16:45:15 GMT
Ealing Trailfinders preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Premiership Cup Round 3, Trailfinders Sports Ground, Saturday 23rd September, KO 3.00pm
Trailfinders’ travelled to Beltrametti Stadium, Italy to play Zebre Parma on 26th August for their only pre-season fixture. Trailfinders won the corresponding pre-season fixture at home last season. They won again 20-26.
Their first Premiership Cup game was at home against Northampton Saints, who obviously under-estimated how good a team from the division below would be. The Saints lost their halo 48-22. Last week it was Bristol Bears who must have been surprised to be beaten 12-28. Lessons learnt!
New Trailfinders loosely as stated:
Loosehead prop Brad Thyer from Cardiff Rugby.
Scrum half Lloyd Williams from Cardiff Rugby. 32 caps for Wales, won Cardiff’s Player of the Season last season.
Loosehead prop Sami Mavinga from French Pro D2 side US Carcassone.
Hooker Henry Walker from Gloucester, a graduate from their Academy.
South African hooker Mike Willemse from London Irish.
‘Powerful prop Biyi Alo signed from French side Racing 92 who he played for after the collapse of Wasps.
Hooker Matt Cornish after four seasons at Trailfinders, Cornish returns from London Irish.
Centre Tom Hitchcock signs from Exeter University. Hitchcock sampled Premiership rugby twice, once for Exeter Chiefs and once for London Irish.
Back three Tom Collins from Northampton Saints after spending a decade at the Premiership club.
Fly-half/centre Billy Twelvetrees from Gloucester Rugby. The ex-England team player got his nickname ‘36’ based on the Irish-accented pronunciation of twelvetrees by club captain Geordan Murphy.
Back row Richard Hardwick, a Nigerian International from Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels
(Premiership regulars)
Against the Saints - a brace of tries touched down by wing/full back Nathan Earle added to tries from back row Simon Uzokwe, centre Dan O’Brien, hooker Mike Willemse, hooker Matt Cornish, centre Cian Kelleher and back row Jonah Holmes. Fly half Steven Shingler won Man of the Match.
Against the Bears - tries were scored by back row Rayn Smid, Nathan Earle (again) and Matt Cornish (again).
After just 2 rounds of the Cup, it is the Knights that top the table followed by Ealing Trailfinders, Northampton Saints, Cambridge, then Bristol Bears.
Both the Knights and Trailfinders won both of their opening games but the Knights managed to score a try bonus point in both of their victories whereas Trailfinders just recorded one BP. It’s worth noting that Trailfinders are second by a point after beating both Premiership opponents, the Knights have yet to play either one of them plus they won’t underestimate their Championship opposition any longer.
Pool D Premiership Cup games taking place this weekend:
Saturday 23rd September
Bristol Bears v Northampton Saints
Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights
Pool C/D
Cambridge (D) v Cornish Pirates (C, cross-over team)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Premiership Cup Round 3, Trailfinders Sports Ground, Saturday 23rd September, KO 3.00pm
Trailfinders’ travelled to Beltrametti Stadium, Italy to play Zebre Parma on 26th August for their only pre-season fixture. Trailfinders won the corresponding pre-season fixture at home last season. They won again 20-26.
Their first Premiership Cup game was at home against Northampton Saints, who obviously under-estimated how good a team from the division below would be. The Saints lost their halo 48-22. Last week it was Bristol Bears who must have been surprised to be beaten 12-28. Lessons learnt!
New Trailfinders loosely as stated:
Loosehead prop Brad Thyer from Cardiff Rugby.
Scrum half Lloyd Williams from Cardiff Rugby. 32 caps for Wales, won Cardiff’s Player of the Season last season.
Loosehead prop Sami Mavinga from French Pro D2 side US Carcassone.
Hooker Henry Walker from Gloucester, a graduate from their Academy.
South African hooker Mike Willemse from London Irish.
‘Powerful prop Biyi Alo signed from French side Racing 92 who he played for after the collapse of Wasps.
Hooker Matt Cornish after four seasons at Trailfinders, Cornish returns from London Irish.
Centre Tom Hitchcock signs from Exeter University. Hitchcock sampled Premiership rugby twice, once for Exeter Chiefs and once for London Irish.
Back three Tom Collins from Northampton Saints after spending a decade at the Premiership club.
Fly-half/centre Billy Twelvetrees from Gloucester Rugby. The ex-England team player got his nickname ‘36’ based on the Irish-accented pronunciation of twelvetrees by club captain Geordan Murphy.
Back row Richard Hardwick, a Nigerian International from Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels
(Premiership regulars)
Against the Saints - a brace of tries touched down by wing/full back Nathan Earle added to tries from back row Simon Uzokwe, centre Dan O’Brien, hooker Mike Willemse, hooker Matt Cornish, centre Cian Kelleher and back row Jonah Holmes. Fly half Steven Shingler won Man of the Match.
Against the Bears - tries were scored by back row Rayn Smid, Nathan Earle (again) and Matt Cornish (again).
After just 2 rounds of the Cup, it is the Knights that top the table followed by Ealing Trailfinders, Northampton Saints, Cambridge, then Bristol Bears.
Both the Knights and Trailfinders won both of their opening games but the Knights managed to score a try bonus point in both of their victories whereas Trailfinders just recorded one BP. It’s worth noting that Trailfinders are second by a point after beating both Premiership opponents, the Knights have yet to play either one of them plus they won’t underestimate their Championship opposition any longer.
Pool D Premiership Cup games taking place this weekend:
Saturday 23rd September
Bristol Bears v Northampton Saints
Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights
Pool C/D
Cambridge (D) v Cornish Pirates (C, cross-over team)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
