Pride in defeat but Greens fail to cash in

Wharfedale 8

Ealing Trailfinders 21

EALING maintained their 100 per cent start to the season, but were made to work very hard for victory in a fiercely-competitive SSE National League One match.

The leaders had to endure a torrid first period in which they were rarely allowed out of their own half, and had Wharfedale made more of their this superiority, the result could have been much closer – or even reversed.

As it was, the Greens had just a try by Taylor Prell – the full back scything through the defence for a scintillating score – and a Tom Davidson penalty to show for almost continuous pressure.

At one stage, the visitors were reduced to 13 men, with yellow cards issued to forwards Kevin Davis and Arthur Ellis, but admirably gritty defence meant only Davidson’s penalty was registered as retribution.

The Dalesmen were unfortunate when a fine ‘try’ by Davidson, initially awarded by the referee, was subsequently discounted on intervention by a touch judge, who had spotted an earlier infringement.

Davidson’s frustration was increased when a penalty from halfway struck a post, and the loss of stalwart No 8 Rob Baldwin, injured on the half-hour, was a further blow.

The second half was a different story. Within eight minutes of the restart, Ealing were level, courtesy of a penalty and try by full back James Love.

Midway through the half, things went badly wrong for the home side. Captain James Doherty earned an instant red card for dangerous play, Love slotted his second penalty for an 11-8 lead, and then home winger Scott Jordan was carded for what referee Leahy – but few, if any, Greens fans – saw as a ‘deliberate knock-on’ as he went for an interception.

Ealing now capitalised efficiently on their numerical advantage, and tries by Ellis and debutant winger Will Harries took them clear, but the bonus point they craved eluded them.

At the end, home supporters cheered their appreciation of their team’s efforts, the fact that they were the first side this season to deny the professional visitors a five-point haul being some small consolation.

Wharfedale: T Prell; Jordan, Van Sentima, Davidson, Ciognini (J Prell 68); Bell, Doherty; Beesley (Altham 61), Stockdale (Larkin 55), Armstrong (Howard 42), Willet, Rhodes, Burridge, Howick, Baldwin (Mason 31).