A look at Ealing Trailfinders. Contenders for promotion to the RFU Championship for 2013/14.
Although it’s not all over yet, Ealing Trailfinders commanding lead at the top of National 1 puts them in pole position for promotion to the RFU Championship for the 2013/14 season.
Team
P
W
D
L
F
A
B Pts
Pts
Ealing Trailfinders
24
19
2
3
821
499
20
100
Blaydon
24
17
0
7
669
519
18
86
Esher
24
16
0
8
764
573
20
84
Rosslyn Park
24
15
2
7
789
526
16
80
Ealing played their first match in 1869 on Ealing Common, prior to the founding of the RFU in 1871. The early years saw regular fixtures against the likes of Wasps, London Irish, Harlequins, Richmond and Blackheath with a 75% win rate for a long period.
Between 1894 and 1958 the club moved location numerous times around the local area and are now located at Trailfinders Sports Ground, just south of the A40 at the upper end of West Ealing.
For travellers from Cornwall this is a handy location and quite a relaxed option
With current train timetables, a Saturday day trip is easily possible for both 2 and 3pm kick offs.
Trains out of Penzance leave at 06:50, 07:59 and 08:45, changing at Paddington arrival times are: 13:01, 14:01 and 14:31.
It’s then a short walk from Castle Bar Park Station to the ground through leafy surroundings.
Being in a part suburban part parkland location there don’t appear to be any pubs within close walking distance, so Ealing Broadway might be the better option for a pre-match meeting place.
There are also regular buses from Ealing Broadway that pass near to the ground.
No doubt there are exiles in the area who will add the extra information on that front.
For those travelling by car, according to Ealing's website"Parking is free and plenty onsite with designated disabled bays"
If Ealing's squad remains similar next season we can look forward to welcoming back the other Matt Evans who left the Pirates to go to University at the end of the 2009/10 season.
Flanker Matt Evans handing off Bees fly-half Rod Petty. 25/10/2009
Matt joined Ealing after the Pirates and is now Club Captain, having helped them to win promotion from National 2 South.
However the Fat Lady is warming up in the wings and 2nd place Blaydon could still spring a surprise that would see us having to undertake another long trek north.
As ever, the latter part of the season is full of interest at all levels.
Sounds like a very do-able trip. If Ealing come up, LW come back to the Championship, Donny go down and Newcastle get promoted it has to make life easier for travelling Pirates!
Good to see Matt Evans doing well - great player.
cheshire exile Let's hope Blaydon don't make a late run.
Personally, I'd rather go to Blaydon, even if Ealing would be a local trip. I'd look forward to going back to ODP though, as I actually miss the duck boards.
2HV - Take it from me, Ealing certainly isn't posh. Richmond yes, but Ealing? Never!
I may have been born a Londoner, and it may have taken me thirty six years to discover my destiny, but one thing is certain - I was born to be a Pirate!
I see your point, but it's London. Everywhere is expensive for property. I know Ealing well as I was brought up in Brentford. Now that definitely isn't posh. Well apart from one street.
I may have been born a Londoner, and it may have taken me thirty six years to discover my destiny, but one thing is certain - I was born to be a Pirate!
The number 65 bus goes past the ground at the bottom of Vallis Way. Getting a bus in London will be an eye opener for Cornish people tho. I think 4/5 people sharing a cab, available from outside the train station would be better. Trains to CastleBar are not frequent, especially on weekends.
Good pubs abound in Ealing. Also lots of bad ones. Duke of Kent is nice close to the ground, but the Clubhouse is good. All beer is expensive in London.
The ground is similar to ODP, but with less seats. They might change this but I cant see them getting planning permission for too many seats. Can be deceptively cold with the wrong wind. Clubhouse is next to the pitch, which is a plus, but is small and service is slow, especially half and full time. Slower than slow.
The members and club itself are very nice, but they dont have much say as Ealing TF as they rent from TF Sports Club. Is complex, ask a member, but they cant make service quicker, just so you know.
It is very much a private sports club though, with a rugby club just happening to play there. Castle Bar Park is easy to get to from Paddington, trains, although not hugely frequent do run easily enough to get to and from Vallis Way in good time before and after. Very much in the middle of suburbia, with entrance at the bottom of a row of houses through an anonymous set of gates.
I may have been born a Londoner, and it may have taken me thirty six years to discover my destiny, but one thing is certain - I was born to be a Pirate!
serge The number 65 bus goes past the ground at the bottom of Vallis Way. Getting a bus in London will be an eye opener for Cornish people tho. I think 4/5 people sharing a cab, available from outside the train station would be better. Trains to CastleBar are not frequent, especially on weekends.
Good pubs abound in Ealing. Also lots of bad ones. Duke of Kent is nice close to the ground, but the Clubhouse is good. All beer is expensive in London.
The ground is similar to ODP, but with less seats. They might change this but I cant see them getting planning permission for too many seats. Can be deceptively cold with the wrong wind. Clubhouse is next to the pitch, which is a plus, but is small and service is slow, especially half and full time. Slower than slow.
The members and club itself are very nice, but they dont have much say as Ealing TF as they rent from TF Sports Club. Is complex, aska member, but they cant make service quicker, just so you know.
You're being too kind Serge. It's hardly a clubhouse, but more so a bar in a gym's canteen. From my experience, the service is slow, but quicker if you happen to support Ealing, if you get my drift.
I may have been born a Londoner, and it may have taken me thirty six years to discover my destiny, but one thing is certain - I was born to be a Pirate!
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