Ealing Trailfinders RFC 29-36 Rotherham Titans

Mike Cudmore's hopes of signing off in style after 12 glorious years at the helm crashed and burned on the Vallis Way turf that has seen so many triumphs for Ealing's director of rugby.

Trailfinders began the day with any number of thoughts in their heads about how their Championship fate could unfold, but the key fact was that they needed to equal or better Jersey's score at Bedford to complete an improbable escape.

Having started the day one off the bottom, they suffered their worst-case scenario, however, with Jersey winning to save themselves by a point.

Getting anything out of their own game was always going to be easier said than done for Ealing against a Titans side heading for the play-offs who had hit them for 79 points earlier in the season.

But they got a generous reception from their fans for a rousing finish that brought them two bonus points – one for four tries, one for closing the victory margin to seven points.

It was agonisingly close.

Ben Ward put over an early penalty and there was enough confidence after a blistering start from the home side for a second penalty to be hammered to the touchline in pursuit of an opening try.

But the early news from Bedford was none too encouraging, with Jersey's extra motivation giving them the edge.

And after weathering an early storm – Chris Kinloch's early dash into an inside channel almost bringing joy - Rotherham began to cause problems with their quick-witted attacks.

Ball carriers began to display a superior array of side-steps and were finding willing support to create more angles of attack.

And after Garry Law had levelled with a kick awarded for a high tackle, they really opened up to grab three tries before the interval.

First, Law slipped Curtis Wilson in, then scrum-half and skipper Charles Mulcrone got to the line, before Wilson bagged a second following a fine move from the visitors to open up more space.

The last two tries came with Gavin Curry sin-binned, underlining again the unforgiving nature of the game at this level.

There could have been another try too, when only a desperate bit of back-tracking from Phil Chesters denied Wilson another try following a deft kick ahead from the ever dangerous centre Jordan Davies.

At 22-3 down at half-time, it already looked as if a minor miracle would be needed, either in Ealing or in Bedford.

Ealing badly needed a try at the start of the second half to give themselves something to work with, but after a sustained spell of pressure on the visitors' tryline, Rotherham broke away for a bonus point try from Davies and there was no way back.

Law, who only missed the third conversion of the afternoon with a shot against the post, extended the lead to 29-3.

Ed Siggery finally got over the line, finishing a move he began with a burst down the right after getting good support from Thomas Bedford and Will Robinson. Ward converted.

But not long after, Mulcrone bagged his second try of the afternoon after another break out of defence – this time instigated by back row Tom Holmes. Sub Juan Pablo Socino added the extras.

To their credit, Trailfinders did not want to go meekly and they put in a stirring final 10 minutes, scoring three tries.

Ronnie McLean scampered over for a converted five-pointer before a touchdown from player of the year Andrew Henderson – again ably converted by Ward - and Robinson swelled home pride even more.

At the end, Ealing players linked arms and took the applause for their gutsy efforts to avoid a quick return to National One and captain Mat Evans – who retires after today – was given a warm send-off.

Line-up: Henderson, Kinloch, McLean, Bedford, Chesters, Ward, Thompson, Storer, Radoi, Carey, Peocanin, Curry, Evans, Siggery, O'Connell. Bench: Townsend, Neville, Brockett, Hocking, Anderson, Parker, Robinson.