Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club continued their fantastic start to the season with a nail-biting 41-42 victory over London rivals Blackheath.

ETRFC extended their unbeaten run to seven games and maintained their five -point lead at the top of the league courtesy of a last minute penalty from Thomas Wheatcroft.

It was Wheatcroft who opened the scoring for the away side, capitalising on a pulsating break by Peter Hodgkinson that exerted pressure on the Blackheath line, leading to the first penalty of the afternoon.

The ETRFC lead didn’t last long as the home side hit back with the first try of the day. With ten minutes on the clock, ETRFC showed just why they sit top of National One as Phil Chesters restored ETRFC’s lead with a magnificent solo effort. Having received the ball just outside his 22m line, the left-winger sprinted pass his opposing winger before chipping the
full-back and gathering to score under the posts. Wheatcroft kicked the extras to give ETRFC a 5-10 lead.

The game was being played at a vigorous pace, with both teams making the most of their offensive stints. ETRFC will be disappointed in the manner Blackheath hit back as the home side eased through the away defence to score between the posts. Blackheath converted the extras to lead again at 12-10.

It was becoming end to end, with both teams making the most of their possession. That being the case, nobody in the ground was surprised to see ETRFC hit straight back. First Wheatcroft kicked ETRFC back in front before a decisive break from an ETRFC scrum, lead to Sam Shires giving the away side a 12-18 lead.

The home side made sure that their side of the scoreboard was kept ticking as a penalty and a long-range drop kick brought the game back to parity. Just as it looked like the sides would go into the break at 18 apiece, ETRFC won another penalty. Wheatcroft took full advantage of the kick, ensuring the away side would take a slender lead into the break.

The second half was no different to the first, with both teams struggling to maintain their lead. Another well struck penalty in the opening minute from Wheatcroft extended the away side’s lead to six, only for Blackheath to run home another try to swing the momentum back in their favour.

Having fallen 25-24 behind, ETRFC counted again on the priceless boot of Wheatcroft. The away side then put together another breathless attack, as Owen Bruynseels gathered Ben Ward’s perfectly weighted kick to score in the corner, giving the league leaders a 25-32 lead.

Two penalties from Blackheath’s Teague then brought the scores to within a point before a well-worked move, finished off by Ronald Mclean-Dents seemed to have put ETRFC in a strong position with 15 minutes remaining.

Teague’s fourth penalty of the afternoon reduced the deficit to 39-34, as Blackheath seemed to be gaining a new lease of life as the game was nearing its completion. ETRFC were forced to defend their line valiantly for large stages of the game before another first phase move saw Griffiths stroll over to score and level the game with an easy conversion to come. Teague’s impressive kicking display continued as his conversion looked to have broken ETRFC hearts and sealed the win for Blackheath.

However, there was still time for one last twist. The Blackheath fly half went from hero to villain in a matter of seconds as a high tackle on McLean-Dents resulted in a yellow-card and more importantly a penalty for the league leaders. Wheatcroft, seemingly the coolest person at the ground, stepped up and converted the points giving ETRFC a well-fought 41-42 victory.