Ealing Trailfinders 21-18 Moseley - B&I Cup
The Ealing of old resurfaced at Trailfinders as a performance bristling with aggression, desire and confidence gave them a first victory on home soil.
The British & Irish Cup may not be high on Ealing's list of priorities this season but they did not play as if it was insignificant.
Having lost the opening three group games, their chances of progressing in the competition were remote before kick-off, but this was a side determined to build up some momentum following their maiden Championship victory of two weeks ago.
To that end, boss Mike Cudmore fielded a strong side, aiming to get his players in the right mindset for next week's visit of Bristol.
At times, there was something of last season's promotion swagger about the Green Army and they looked far more threatening going forward than they have done in most of their games this season.
The sight of Phil Chesters collected a crossfield kick from Ben Ward and nearly making the line had home fans letting out a roar of satisfaction.
But it was up front where the home side really looked a side on the rise – their physical commitment earning them good turnovers and getting them past the gain line.
Scott Browne kicked Moseley ahead early on – having missed an even earlier punt – but Ealing were soon on the front foot and posing problems.
Ward levelled with a penalty, then full-back Andrew Henderson peeled away to scamper into the left hand corner after Harlequins loan signing George Merrick – immense throughout - had made some hard yards by making the most of his back row frame.
Moseley responded with a second Browne penalty, but in the next attack, great work from no8 Sean O'Connell created an opening for Ronald McLean-Dents for the home side's second try and Ward's conversion from out wide made it 18-6 at the interval.
A great burst out of defence from Henderson at the start of the second half continued the theme as Ealing maintained an impressive tempo. It earned them another penalty in front of the posts that Ward again put away.
Moseley finally found the tryline on 65 minutes when sub Rhys Buckley profited from a maul at an attacking lineout and there was still a little work to do, with Ealing having to see out the night with 14 men when Merrick was yellow carded.
But they had built a cushion to give them a relatively uncomplicated stroll to the finish line. A Gregory King try at the death, converted by Oliver Robinson made the final scoreline far closer than it should have been.
