There was a period mid-way through the second period of this contest where Blackheath, a mere six points adrift, had all the ascendancy. 

With Ealing’s discipline faltering, Blackheath held the territorial advantage, and as yet another penalty landed in touch 10 metres short of their opponents’ goal-line in the 63rd minute, an opportunity presented itself to reduce the arrears still further.

Crucially, Trailfinders second-row Gary Johnson pinched the line-out ball, and within moments Ealing's pack, which increasingly gained the upper hand as the match progressed, were driving forward at the other end of their new all-weather playing surface, before open-side Arthur Ellis broke down the right touchline to cross in the corner, putting the hosts back in control.

Nevertheless, this was a valiant effort from Blackheath against the National League One leaders. With Ealing’s invincibility pierced the previous week at Coventry, Simon Legg had told his team to go out and play without fear and be prepared to attack from anywhere on the field and Blackheath did just that, taking the game to the opposition throughout, never allowing them to settle, and gaining a reward of two bonus points for their trouble. 

Indeed, as the final analysis will show, only the faultless first-half goal-kicking of Ben Ward separated the teams at the final whistle and the Trailfinders fly-half and rirector of coaching will be aware that, despite taking maximum points on this occasion, more self-control and precision will be required if his side are to achieve their quest of an immediate return to the Championship.

Blackheath were unfortunate not to take an early lead as Richard Windsor was adjudged to have lost the ball forward as he stretched for the line in the left corner.  Instead, the Trailfinders drew first blood as, with their first attack on nine minutes, Ellis was driven across for a 7-0 lead.

Spurning a straightforward kick at goal, however, Blackheath responded quickly enough as a series of penalties saw Seb Nagle-Taylor steal over from the blindside of a line-out.  Then, almost straight from the re-start, Blackheath’s open-side broke through a tackle, after Will Stuart made ground in midfield, to break down the left flank before offloading to Joe Crust who in turn sent Richard Windsor across, and at 10-7 they led for the only time.

As Ealing’s big pack began to recycle possession, and make ground at every breakdown, right-wing Owen Bruynseels crossed out wide after Blackheath lost control from their own put-in, followed by blindside Redford Pennycook going over as the visitors ran out of tacklers, and only some over-elaborate play which saw two scoring passes go forward denied the Middlesex side a bigger lead than the 21-10 advantage they enjoyed at the break.

The third quarter was Blackheath’s real opportunity to get level. With Trailfinders’ newly-arrived replacement second row Paul Spivey off to the sin-bin for getting on the wrong side, Alex Gallagher found space to stroll across to the left of the uprights after a set-scrum five metres out, and Mike Canty, whose pace troubled the hosts throughout, was tackled just short.

Johnson’s steal and Ellis' second try, however, gave an audible sense of relief to the home support, and with some neat handling putting the unstoppable Phil Chesters away for the left-wing’s 16th try of the season, and 200th for his club, Ealing were 16 points ahead.

Still Blackheath refused to lie down.  Determined to take something from the match, a line-out saw Gallagher cut a fine angle through the Ealing defence to score his second try.  And breaking out, almost from their own goal-line, the last play of the game enabled Canty to put Ryan Squires over for a converted score at the death, capturing the second bonus point.

Ealing Trailfinders   

Tries:  Ellis 2, Bruynseels, Pennycook, Chesters

Conv:  Ward 3

Blackheath    

Tries:  Nagle-Taylor, Windsor, Gallagher 2, Squires

Conv:  Gallagher

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