TWO tries by league top try scorer Phil Chesters helped Ealing Trailfinders to a 33-17 away win at newly promoted Taunton in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.
Chesters was soon in action, taking off from inside his 22m line, chipping over the home defence and outstripping them to reach the ball first for a touchdown.
Full back Neil Hallett, who had earlier fired over a penalty, adding the conversion to make it 10-0.
On 28 minutes, Chesters again used the classic kick and chase to claim his second of the day, before Taunton hit back with a try from centre Christian Gervais, con
verted by Gary Kingdom, to make it 15-7 at the interval.
The lead dwindled to a single point, in spite of an early Hallett penalty as Nick Burnett's try was converted by Kingdom, who then added a penalty on 62 minutes.
But that only galvanised the visitors, who strode away to claim five points. Chesters was denied a hat-trick when he spilled the ball as he crashed over the line, but a spell of dominance from the pack ended with prop Lewis Brown going over under the posts.
Then Pete Hodgkinson, on as a replacement, took a sublime reverse pass by scrum half Morgan Thompson just inside the
hosts' half and accelerated past the last line of defence to score.
"Taunton was the last game of a very tough month for us, with three away games and only one fixture at home," said skipper Ben Ward.
"We played with a lot of discipline, especially at the breakdown, and didn't give them anything cheaply. In attack, we were able to stretch them and force them to chase the game.
It was a very pleasing performance. Taunton will cause a lot of teams problems this year."
Ealing Trailfinders return to Vallis Way tomorrow (Saturday) against Newbury RFC.
Visit www.ealingrugby.co.uk for more details.
