Ealing Trailfinders served up an entertaining eight-try feast in beating Worthing 53-6, writes Arthur Lewis.

David Howells and Pete Hodgkinson both ran in a hat-trick of tries as the visitors struggled to cope with the sheer pace of their hosts' back division.

Ben Ward's long-range penalty gave Ealing an early lead before Pete Hodgkinson was driven over in the corner for the first try of the afternoon.

Ali James and then Matt Garvey both made inroads into the Wothing defence to create space for Owen Bruynseels to break down the right touchline and pass to Hodgkinson for the score.

Worthing struck back through the boot of full-back Tom Wells but the renaissance was cut short when a wayward kick out of defence by Worthing saw David Howells collect the ball inside his own half and the prolific try scorer made full use of the space to run in try number 20 for the season.

His 21st swiftly followed as the winger turned up on the opposite wing to finish off a set move from the back of a scrum.

Worthing did enjoy brief spells of possession and pressure and were unlucky not to be rewarded fully for their efforts.

The visitors brought their quick back three into the game as much as possible, but it was the sharp interplay of their front row that posed most threat.

Ealing's defence, however, held firm and Worthing fly-half Joe Govett was limited to kicking a drop-goal to reduce the deficit.

Worthing's kicking out of defence was never great and another wayward effort was collected by Ealing's Tom Parker on his own 22 and the scrum-half went on a mazy run through the Worthing chasers into the visitors' 22. Quick recycled ball came back to Ward who put in a delicate crossfield kick for Bruynseels to pick up and run in a try under the posts. Ward's conversion sent the home side in 29-6 up at half time.

The opening of the second half was a niggly affair that caused the referee to speak with both sets of forward before the quality rugby of the first half returned.

Ealing centre Ali James bagged the first try of the second half for Ealing beating two defenders and taking another two over the line.

A number of injuries suffered in the half did nothing for the flow of the game and there were a few lengthy disruptions as the wounded received treatment. However, the biggest cheer of the game was for the introduction of Dave Essien as an injury replacement, himself returning after three months out with injury.

And Essien made an immediate impact on his return, breaking through the Worthing defence on half way with his first touch and passing for Hodgkinson to cross for his second of the game.

Howells completed his hat-trick with a short-range lunge following runs by Parker and Bruynseels from the base of a scrum before Essien again set up Hodgkinson to run in his third.

Ealing enjoy a weekend off before travelling to face Richmond on 20 December.