Ealing Trailfinders emphatically dispatched Nottingham 82-5 in Round 14 of the Championship on Saturday (29 March 2025)
Four tries from Tom Collins, and braces from Michael Stronge, Reuben Bird Tulloch and Scott Buckley, as well as individual efforts from Michael Dykes and Craig Hampton meant Nottingham were little match for Trailfinders this afternoon.
Trailfinders remain top of the table and sit 12 points clear after the conclusion of this weekend’s matches.
Ealing Trailfinders delivered a first-half masterclass in both attack and defence, overwhelming Nottingham with relentless pressure and clinical finishing. Their defensive intensity was evident from the outset, forcing errors and limiting Nottingham’s attacking opportunities.
The first breakthrough came in the sixth minute when Tom Collins finished off a well-worked move after sustained pressure, with Craig Willis converting in challenging conditions.
Moments later, Michael Dykes extended the lead following excellent ball-in-hand play that saw Trailfinders exploit both wings. Willis maintained his perfect record from the tee, making it 14-0.
Nottingham had a golden opportunity to respond but squandered it with a dropped ball in the 16th minute.
Trailfinders capitalised immediately through Michael Stronge, whose quick thinking down the short side unlocked Nottingham’s defence. Willis’ conversion stretched the lead to 21-0.
Trailfinders’ dominance continued as Collins secured the bonus point try in the 28th minute.
Just three minutes later, Stronge’s interception and lung-busting run set up another Collins score, with Trailfinders running in their fifth try before Nottingham could muster a reply.
Reuben Bird-Tulloch capped off the half with Trailfinders’ sixth, converted once again by the flawless Willis.
Half-time: Ealing Trailfinders 42-0 Nottingham
Trailfinders picked up where they left off when Stronge struck again in the 41st minute after an excellent passage of play. Willis added the extras to extend the lead to 49-0.
Three minutes later, Bird-Tulloch finished off a flowing move, showcasing great pace to score his second try, with Willis once again converting.
Nottingham responded in the 49th minute when hooker Jack Dickinson capitalised on Ealing’s ill-discipline, running in under the posts after their first sustained attacking spell. Gwyn Parks converted, reducing the deficit to 56-7.
Trailfinders quickly regained control, and in the 62nd minute, Scott Buckley broke off a rolling maul to dot down. Willis converted before making way for George Worboys.
Five minutes later, Collins secured his fourth with an excellent set play off the scrum, Worboys converting to make it 70-5.
A yellow card for Nottingham’s Xavier Valentine in the 71st minute saw Trailfinders capitalise immediately, with Buckley scoring another maul try. Worboys slotted the conversion to push the score to 75-5.
The final blow came in the 77th minute when Craig Hampson finished off a sweeping counterattack, rounding off Trailfinders’ dominant performance. Worboys converted, sealing an emphatic 82-5 victory.
Tom Collins was named Man of the Match after his outstanding display.
Emily Bunder from EALING.NEWS caught up with Trailfinders’ Player, Angus Kernohan, after the game.
Angus, really great result today. How does it feel?
“It feels really good. I feel like we’ve been putting a lot of momentum together this season. We’ve had some really good results against Premiership opposition. And then it was really disappointing last week to go up to [Doncaster] and lose, I feel like we played well and we just weren’t clinical enough. And this week, a big focus was that when we came out today, we just executed a bit better and I feel like we did that as a squad, we played enjoyable rugby and really just did everything in unison and executed it well.”
What are your hopes for what is to come?
“We play Ampthill next week which will be away on a grass pitch and that will be a big challenge. They’re a good team with a lot of exciting young players. So, I think similar to what we have been doing this week, focus on ourselves, keep building what we have been doing this season which is producing a really good squad that are really hungry. So, I think, stick to the process.”
Full-time: Ealing Trailfinders 82-5 Nottingham
Ealing Trailfinders:
Tries: Tom Collins 6 28 31 67, Michael Dykes 11, Michael Stronge 19 41, Reuben Bird Tulloch 38 44, Scott Buckley 62 71, Craig Hampson 77
Conversions: Craig Willis 7 12 20 29 32 39 42 45 63, George Worboys 68 78
Nottingham:
Tries: Jack Dickinson 49
Conversions: Gwyn Parks 50
Yellow cards: Xavier Valentine 71
