Bath 28 – 36 Ealing Trailfinders: Premiership finalists beaten by Championship stalwarts in pre-season battle
09/07/2024 12:48 PM
By Sam Jess
Bath’s hopes of back-to-back wins at the Rec in Pre-season came to an abrupt halt as Ealing’s power gave them a dominant win as tries from Tobi Wilson, Lloyd Williams, Simon Uzokwe, David Douglas Bridge and Cam Terry earned them a famous win
After a perhaps sluggish start for Louis Schreuder and Orlando Bailey last week, they were well up for it to start against Ealing, with passes being zipped around with purpose and venom.
With Ealing struggling to contain Bath’s power and pace, their discipline slipped, allowing the hosts to go to the corner, which, after a steady maul, saw Jaco Coetzee dot down.
A great line and break from Louis Hennessey, who was playing his second game in less than 24 hours, gave the hosts more momentum, and when try scored, Coetzee stepped his way to within inches of the line; a second score was coming.
A few passes later, Tom de Glanville was over, and Bath led 14-0.
Ealing were hanging on, but thanks to some smart kicking, found some momentum and territory. A Lloyd Williams snipe from a maul got them close before patience gave Tobi Wilson a try.
After a bright start, Bath was falling asleep, and after a few sloppy penalties, they were back defending in their own half as Ruaridh McConnchie was caught crawling on the deck to gain a few extra metres.
Ealign set up well before spreading it wide as Angus Kernohan made it just inside the 22.This time, a snipe from Lloyd Williams could not be stopped as the Trailfinders silenced the Rec.
With Bath trialing at halftime to the Trailfinders, they needed a pick me up after the break; a turnover from debutant Guy Pepper gave them just that as they fired into the 22. Some strong carries followed before Coetzee grabbed his second.
Once again, though, the visitors came back at Bath and with more ill-discipline from the hosts, giving the Trailfinders another chance to strike, which they took instantly as Simon Uzokwe pounced after a powerful maul.
They weren’t done yet with more sloppy Bath play, giving a strong Ealign side more chances, which they took once again with Sean Lonsdale crashing over from short range to extend the lead once more.
Despite plenty of changes and experiences coming on, Bath failed to change the momentum as Ealing’s defence held firm.
Cam Terry’s try five minutes from time meant it was a very grizzly pre-season game at the Rec, with Ealing extending their lead to 21-36 with a late try from Bath doing nothing to brighten the Rec spirits.
BATH: 28
Tries: 4 (Jaco Coetzee 8, 42, Tom de Glanville 16, Ted Hill 80)
Penalties: 0
Conversions 4 (Orlando Bailey 8, 16, 43, 80)
STARTING XV: 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 9 Louis Schreuder, 10 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 12 Will Butt, 13 Max Ojomoh (Louis Hennesse) 12'), 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville
EALING TRALIFINDERS: 36
Tries: 5 (Wilson 27, Williams 33, Uzokwe 55, Bridge 60, Terry 75,)
Penalties: 1 (Jones 40,)
Conversions: 4 (Jones 34, 56, 60, 76)
STARTING XV: 1 Kyle Whyte, 2 Matt Cornish, 3 George Davis, 4 Sean Lonsdale ,5 Danny Cutmore, 6 Rob Farrar, 7 Simon Uzokwe, 8 Josh Taylor, 9 Lloyd Williams, 10 Dan Jones, 11 Tom Collins, 12 Jordan Holgate, 13 Francis Moore, 14 Angus Kernohan, 15 Tobi Wilson
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