Ealing Trailfinders v Nottingham Rugby
4 April 2026 | Vallis Way | Elior Champ Rugby
Craig Hammond made a number of changes to his Nottingham side that lost to Chinnor last time out, as they headed to the outskirts of the capital to take on the runaway league leaders. Under the captaincy of Jay Ecclesfield for the first time the Archers threatened to cause an upset with a physical performance that saw them leading at the break. However, Ealing’s greater experience came to the fore in the second period, breaking the Champ Rugby record for consecutive victories and ensuring they will finish the season top of the table with a 47-21 win.
Ecclesfield summarised the flow of the game: “We’re wishing we could have come away with a little bit more. To be up in the first half is a really big achievement against a team like Ealing but then we made a couple of errors around the park that allowed them more into the game in the second half. And towards the end they sort of ran away with it with the momentum that they were building.”
It was the hosts who struck first through Patrick Campbell, but the advantage was short-lived, as Levi Roper broke through the defensive line to release his centre partner Charlie Myall for his second try in as many matches.
Nottingham continued to apply pressure and their patient build-up play was rewarded when Ecclesfield squeezed over the line just after the half hour mark. Shane O’Leary converted both scores to see his side take a 14-5 lead into the interval.
Ealing came out with renewed purpose at the start of the second half and retook the lead after Tom Collins crossed then, with Archers’ loose-head Oscar Stott in the sin bin, Rory Scannell powered over.
Nottingham rallied, however, as George Timmins ran it in from 20 metres after good work by Alex Garrett on the left wing. O’Leary added the extras once again to put Nottingham back in front.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, however, as the Trailfinders then took control. Will Montgomery secured the bonus point before Lefty Zigiradis and a second from Collins took the game away from the Archers.
There were a couple of chances for Nottingham to secure a try bonus point of their own when, playing with the freedom of a penalty advantage, Wilf McCarthy’s arm was quite long enough to place the ball over the line. And the ensuing five metre tap-and-go was fumbled.
Ealing then made the error even more painful as Geordie Irvine put the gloss on the victory.
Ecclesfield reflected on his first outing as captain: “Today’s been a big learning day for me and, I’m sure, for some of the other boys. But I was really proud to take the boys out. I cannot fault the effort of the lads.”