National League One

Tynedale 17- 29 Ealing Trailfinders

The Trailfinders yo-yo string shows no signs of snapping after a 23rd win out of 25.

League One champions in 2013, relegated last term, Ealing are ever closer to a second title in three years following a tiring trek to Tyneside.

Touchdown: Arthur Ellis scores

They remain nine points clear of second with five game to go, and Phil Chesters ran in a hat-trick of tries to ensure there will be no catch-up from nearest chasers, Rosslyn Park.

Arthur Ellis and Luke Daniels also crossed the whitewash to quell a fired-up Tynedale battling to avoid relegation.

Indeed, the home side had Trailfinders defence scrambling to clear after a kick and chase, but eventually the visitors’ composure shone through when Arthur Ellis swept on a loose lineout; the backline was set running, and Chesters finished off the move in the corner.

From another lineout,a catch and drive saw Ellis peel off the side to add another score.

The hosts reacted with a concerted period of pressure and after twice coming close they made the breakthrough when 36-year-old prop Mike Southern dummied on the line and nipped through a half-yard of space to dot down for a deserved score.

On the move: Luke Daniels drives forward

But it was back down the other end, on the stroke of half time as Daniels broke the Tynedale defence and accelerated away to dive over in the corner.

Immediately after the break Daniels broke through again, and when Chesters popped up on his shoulder a simple pass allowed the wing to run in his second of the match.

It spurred the hosts into action and they enjoyed a long period dominating territory and possession.

After hammering the Ealing line, flanker Dan Temm picked a strong line through defence and dived between the posts for a try that fly-half Matt Outson converted.

But a side used to bouncing back, responded straight from kick off when Llewelyn Jones gathered the ball. After attacking to the right, the ball came back to the left where Chesters had a simple run in to complete his three for the day.

Tynedale took a grip on proceedings in a desperate bid to get something from the game, and when hooker Dave Nelson scored in the corner the belief they could earn a four-try bonus point flooded through the team.

But Trailfinders are not top for nothing. A rock solid defence ran down the clock - and for their rivals, the clock is on the final countdown.



Tries (Southern 35, Temms 49), Conversions (Outson 49)

Ealing Trailfinders

Tries (Chesters 10, 42, 51 Ellis 26, Daniels 40), Conversions (Daniels 10, 42)