EALING Trailfinders suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday.
Ealing lost 44-29 at National 2 South leaders Barking to leave them fifth.
The damage was done in the first half, when four tries from the unbeaten home side meant Ealing had to battle to salvage a bonus point - which they did thanks to a hat-trick of touchdowns from Phil Chesters.
The match had begun promisingly for the visitors, when an interception in midfield gave fly-half Ben Ward an unopposed run in for five points.
But Barking were then allowed to run in four relatively soft tries without reply.
The first came when Ealing found themselves exposed by Barking's swift back line, who ran in to score their first of their six tries of the afternoon.
A powerful catch-and-drive produced a well-worked second try and the home side's heavy pack began to control the ball in the tight.
Ealing tried to attack from deep, but the ball was turned over and led to Barking's third try after an attempted offload failed to go to hand, and their winger raced away to score under the posts. And another Barking try left Trailfinders trailing 27-8 at half time.
Chesters raised spirits by running in the first of his tries soon after the break, but further pressure on the failed to yield more points and it was Barking who scored two more tries before Chesters claimed his second and third.
Ealing play third-placed Canterbury at Vallis Way tomorrow The match kicks off at 3pm.
