Post by Jamie Crawford on Oct 1, 2024 17:33:15 GMT
Ealing Trailfinders preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 3, Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights,
Saturday 5th October, Trailfinders Sports Club, KO 3pm
The Knights start their 2024/25 away season with ‘a baptism of fire’ when they travel down to Trailfinders Sports Club in Ealing to play the perennial and current Championship winners, whose ground did not meet Premiership division minimum entry criteria. The relaxed minimum entry criteria are essentially that clubs may move from 5,000, to 7,500 and finally a 10,001 supporter capacity at the start of their fourth season in the Premiership at the latest.
New Trailfinders
Ben Harris, winger from Saracens. 2020 England Men’s Sevens Player of the Year
Michael Stronge, scrum half from Nottingham.
Sean Lonsdale, lock from Welsh side Dragons RFC.
Tobi Wilson, full back from Coventry.
George Worboys, fly half from Bath.
Sam Clark, prop from Newcastle Falcons.
Ehize Ehizode, lock from the Knights.
Geordie Irvine, back row from Northampton Saints
Francis Moore, utility back from Saracens.
George Shaw, lock from Cardiff University’s BUCS Super Rugby side.
Tomiwa Agbongbon, back row from Loughborough University’s BUCS Super Rugby side.
Adam Nicol, prop from Coventry.
James Kenny, prop from Exeter Chiefs after a brief spell on loan.
Tyler Bocks, centre from the URC’s Emirates Lions.
Josh Taylor, back row from Brunel University. Taylor played last season against the Knights
Geordie Gwynn, outside back in his second year of study in Uxbridge.
Darren Low, back row from Brunel University 1st XV.
Dan Jones, fly half from Scarlets.
Jeneiro Wakeham, 6’ 10” 2nd row from Stade Français.
Matas Jurevicius, second and back row forward from Harlequins.
Six signings are from the Premiership.
Trailfinders began their pre-season with a 45-31 victory over Cardiff Rugby. A hat-trick from new hooker Mike Willemse along with tries from full back Michael Dykes, hooker Matt Cornish, centre Francis Moore and fly-half George Worboys led the West Londoners to a statement win over a top-flight side.
Trailfinders travelled to Bath for a preseason fixture at The Rec on Saturday 7th September and returned the 28-36 winners. Trailfinders had a one-point, 14-15 lead at the break. Trailfinders ran in five tries courtesy of full back Tobi Wilson, scrum half Lloyd Williams, back row Simon Uzokwe, back/2nd row David Douglas Bridge and ex-Knight hooker Cam Terry.
On Friday 13th September, Trailfinders played Hartpury in a pre-season friendly, which they won comfortably 62-19 to record their third pre-season victory in a row. Trailfinders ran in ten tries, including one by ex-Knight Eezy and a brace by ex-Knight Cam Terry.
Their two results this season are both wins; 55-21 v Hartpury RFC. Trailfinder’s nine try scorers were centre Lloyd Williams, a brace from back row Jordy Reid, centre Jordan Holgate, back row Josh Taylor, centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch, centre Francis Moore, scrum-half Craig Hampson and full back Tobi Wilson.
And 24-29 in Cornwall against the Pirates. Again, Trailfinders who touched the ball down four times to record the winning bonus point were wing Tom Collins, hooker Matt Cornish, full back Tobi Wilson and back row Rob Farrar.
Last August the Telegraph focused on '4 to watch' in the Championship regarding promotion to the Premiership at the end of the campaign. Trailfinders were one of the teams.
Ealing Trailfinders
Last season: 1st
Director of rugby: Ben Ward
Key player: Biyi Alo (tighthead prop)
Cautious optimism would probably cover the sentiment at Ealing, who are understood to be confident that they now meet the agreed requirements for promotion to the Premiership.
Biyi Alo is a force at tighthead prop and Lloyd Williams, the 32-cap Wales scrum-half, should have a sharper understanding of attacking systems in his second season. The latter, now 34, kicks off both feet and is a robust defender.
There are high hopes for Sean Lonsdale, a versatile and athletic back-five forward who calls line-outs. He has joined Ealing from Dragons after coming through at Exeter Chiefs. Francis Moore, a burly outside centre, was previously with Saracens and has intriguing potential.
Having landed the title in 2022, Ealing were pipped by Jersey in 2023. The response was strong and they ended up seven points clear last season, winning 16 of 20 league matches.
As well as solidifying infrastructure off the pitch, they are future-proofing the squad. Lefty Zigiriadis, a product of the Trailfinders Academy at Brunel University, was loaned to Cornish Pirates last season. The loosehead prop ended up in the Championship team of the year, edging out Will Goodrick-Clarke. Now the latter has moved from Ealing to Exeter, Zigiriadis will hope to make his mark at his parent club.
Janeiro Wakeham, a towering presence at 6ft 10in, has joined from Stade Français this summer, too. Ben Ward believes the lock can become “a real difference-maker” in time.
All games across the country:
Friday 4th October
London Scottish v Cornish Pirates
Nottingham v Ampthill
Saturday 5th October
Bedford Blues v Hartpury University
Cambridge v Coventry
Chinnor v Caldy
Ealing Trailfinders v Knights
Hopefully Knight superstar back three Telusa Veainu’s visa will have arrived. Telusa was born in New Zealand but plays rugby for Tonga.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 3, Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights,
Saturday 5th October, Trailfinders Sports Club, KO 3pm
The Knights start their 2024/25 away season with ‘a baptism of fire’ when they travel down to Trailfinders Sports Club in Ealing to play the perennial and current Championship winners, whose ground did not meet Premiership division minimum entry criteria. The relaxed minimum entry criteria are essentially that clubs may move from 5,000, to 7,500 and finally a 10,001 supporter capacity at the start of their fourth season in the Premiership at the latest.
New Trailfinders
Ben Harris, winger from Saracens. 2020 England Men’s Sevens Player of the Year
Michael Stronge, scrum half from Nottingham.
Sean Lonsdale, lock from Welsh side Dragons RFC.
Tobi Wilson, full back from Coventry.
George Worboys, fly half from Bath.
Sam Clark, prop from Newcastle Falcons.
Ehize Ehizode, lock from the Knights.
Geordie Irvine, back row from Northampton Saints
Francis Moore, utility back from Saracens.
George Shaw, lock from Cardiff University’s BUCS Super Rugby side.
Tomiwa Agbongbon, back row from Loughborough University’s BUCS Super Rugby side.
Adam Nicol, prop from Coventry.
James Kenny, prop from Exeter Chiefs after a brief spell on loan.
Tyler Bocks, centre from the URC’s Emirates Lions.
Josh Taylor, back row from Brunel University. Taylor played last season against the Knights
Geordie Gwynn, outside back in his second year of study in Uxbridge.
Darren Low, back row from Brunel University 1st XV.
Dan Jones, fly half from Scarlets.
Jeneiro Wakeham, 6’ 10” 2nd row from Stade Français.
Matas Jurevicius, second and back row forward from Harlequins.
Six signings are from the Premiership.
Trailfinders began their pre-season with a 45-31 victory over Cardiff Rugby. A hat-trick from new hooker Mike Willemse along with tries from full back Michael Dykes, hooker Matt Cornish, centre Francis Moore and fly-half George Worboys led the West Londoners to a statement win over a top-flight side.
Trailfinders travelled to Bath for a preseason fixture at The Rec on Saturday 7th September and returned the 28-36 winners. Trailfinders had a one-point, 14-15 lead at the break. Trailfinders ran in five tries courtesy of full back Tobi Wilson, scrum half Lloyd Williams, back row Simon Uzokwe, back/2nd row David Douglas Bridge and ex-Knight hooker Cam Terry.
On Friday 13th September, Trailfinders played Hartpury in a pre-season friendly, which they won comfortably 62-19 to record their third pre-season victory in a row. Trailfinders ran in ten tries, including one by ex-Knight Eezy and a brace by ex-Knight Cam Terry.
Their two results this season are both wins; 55-21 v Hartpury RFC. Trailfinder’s nine try scorers were centre Lloyd Williams, a brace from back row Jordy Reid, centre Jordan Holgate, back row Josh Taylor, centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch, centre Francis Moore, scrum-half Craig Hampson and full back Tobi Wilson.
And 24-29 in Cornwall against the Pirates. Again, Trailfinders who touched the ball down four times to record the winning bonus point were wing Tom Collins, hooker Matt Cornish, full back Tobi Wilson and back row Rob Farrar.
Last August the Telegraph focused on '4 to watch' in the Championship regarding promotion to the Premiership at the end of the campaign. Trailfinders were one of the teams.
Ealing Trailfinders
Last season: 1st
Director of rugby: Ben Ward
Key player: Biyi Alo (tighthead prop)
Cautious optimism would probably cover the sentiment at Ealing, who are understood to be confident that they now meet the agreed requirements for promotion to the Premiership.
Biyi Alo is a force at tighthead prop and Lloyd Williams, the 32-cap Wales scrum-half, should have a sharper understanding of attacking systems in his second season. The latter, now 34, kicks off both feet and is a robust defender.
There are high hopes for Sean Lonsdale, a versatile and athletic back-five forward who calls line-outs. He has joined Ealing from Dragons after coming through at Exeter Chiefs. Francis Moore, a burly outside centre, was previously with Saracens and has intriguing potential.
Having landed the title in 2022, Ealing were pipped by Jersey in 2023. The response was strong and they ended up seven points clear last season, winning 16 of 20 league matches.
As well as solidifying infrastructure off the pitch, they are future-proofing the squad. Lefty Zigiriadis, a product of the Trailfinders Academy at Brunel University, was loaned to Cornish Pirates last season. The loosehead prop ended up in the Championship team of the year, edging out Will Goodrick-Clarke. Now the latter has moved from Ealing to Exeter, Zigiriadis will hope to make his mark at his parent club.
Janeiro Wakeham, a towering presence at 6ft 10in, has joined from Stade Français this summer, too. Ben Ward believes the lock can become “a real difference-maker” in time.
All games across the country:
Friday 4th October
London Scottish v Cornish Pirates
Nottingham v Ampthill
Saturday 5th October
Bedford Blues v Hartpury University
Cambridge v Coventry
Chinnor v Caldy
Ealing Trailfinders v Knights
Hopefully Knight superstar back three Telusa Veainu’s visa will have arrived. Telusa was born in New Zealand but plays rugby for Tonga.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
