Greene King IPA Championship
Doncaster Knights 23-17 Ealing Trailfinders
A terrible tale of two haves bought a crumb of consolation to Trailfinders on Saturday.
Ealing secured a third point in three visits to Yorkshire already with a late try - but things were even more promising at the break.
Ben Ward’s side led 10-6 after a pushover try from Nathan Buck.
But Donny did a number on Ealing to open up a 13-point lead in the second period. Callum Wilson scored a late that claimed a bonus point, but it’s still three away losses on the trot and a 10th place out of 12 - with both sides behind them only a point in arrears.
Alex Davies opened the scoring after two minutes when he slotted a penalty, but Doncaster lit the afterburners when wing Tyson Lewis raced away to exploit a gap.
Davies then had the opportunity to stretch the lead as Doncaster fullback Paul Jarvis was yellow-carded, but struck it wide. Even so, Ealing capitalised with the extra man when a whole team effort drove Buck over from a rolling maul off a line-out.
The visitors Will Davis became the second player to see yellow, but Trailfinders defence bundled No 8 Ollie Steadman in to touch when Doncaster tried a rolling maul.
Doncaster grabbed the lead soon after the restart when Lewis’ mazy run set up good field position, which Latu Makaafi capitalised on to extend his lead at the top of the Championship’s try-scoring charts.
He added a second not long after when he burrowed over from close range and with Heaney adding two conversions and another penalty it was good Knights, but bad afternoon for the west Londoners
Trailfinders spirit rose yet again, and after Rhys Crane won turnover ball it was worked to substitute Callum Wilson who raced away to score.
Sadly, that all important third try proved elusive.
Scorers
Doncaster Knights
Tries (Makaafi 47, 57), Conversions (Heaney 47, 57), Penalties (Heaney 25, 36, 65)
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries (Buck 20, Wilson 69), Conversions (Davies 20, 69), Penalties (Davies 2)
