Who Jersey
Are Facing.
Ealing
Trailfinders Rugby Club
Founded:
1871
Home Ground:
Vallis Way
Director of
Rugby: Mike Cudmore
Last Season:
National One Champions
Previous
with Jersey
Ealing
have possibly the richest history of matches against Jersey compared to all the
other Championship clubs having followed Jersey up the league pyramid. They first met in 2010, in National Two
South, Jersey fully deserving a 32-18 win after a tremendous forwards display,
before they did the double with a hard fought away win, 15-0 later that same
season. It was not enough to top the pile however, they finishing second to
champions, Ealing, but Jersey still gained promotion by hammering Loughborough
Students in the play-off.
The
following season in National One, Ealing became the first side in two and a
half years to lower Jersey’s colours in a tense, narrow, 23-15 defeat. Ealing
with the prolific Phil Chesters in fine form topped the table, Jersey sinking
to ninth after this loss. As the season wore on Jersey came into outstanding
form and in the return match early in 2012, they won at Ealing, the league
leaders at that point, 24-16 after a sterling defensive display. This one of 19
straight wins, proving that they were very real title contenders. All this despite
the key for the away changing room mysteriously disappearing at half time
amidst the rain and hail. Ealing regained their form after a Christmas/New Year
wobble but were unable to overhaul the Jersey juggernaught and finished as
runners up.
Last
Season
It
was no surprise after their narrow miss in 2011/12 that Ealing were favourites,
along with relegated Esher, to win promotion to the Championship. Once again
they were in stunning form, losing only three of their thirty league matches
all season, scoring over 1000 points for the second consecutive season. Phil
Chesters added to his 42 tries the previous season with another 29, topping the
charts in both seasons. This tally would surely have been higher but for a
season ending car accident in March. Ealing won eight and drew one of their
first nine matches, and finished with 17 wins and a draw from the final 19.
Despite this superiority, Ealing showed they could tough out the tight matches,
with nine matches won by seven points or fewer. It was this ability that saw
them win the division by a comfortable 19 points from Esher, with Blaydon and
Rosslyn Park all registering over 100 league points.
This
season so far.
A
duel registering link with Premiership side Harlequins gave Ealing’s squad a
boost. Still with a side many expected to struggle, much like Jersey last
season, they kicked off against London Scottish, and promptly went ahead with
an early penalty. It was tight throughout the half, and when the prolific Phil
Chesters scampered over to reduce the deficit to four points early in the
second Ealing had hope. Unfortunately Scottish was too powerful and ground down
the newcomers winning convincingly in the end. Nothing had prepared Ealing for
what was to follow as Rotherham put them to the sword, scoring ten tries in a
79-9 hammering which was much more of a reality check than many had suggested
life in the Championship would be. A vastly improved performance against
Cornish Pirates followed in their opening home match, but with only two tries
they were some way short of their experienced opponents. Like Jersey, it has
taken time for the club to adapt to life at this level. Jersey lost their
opening six matches, but Ealing have yet to register a single point after eight Championship defeats, and losing both
British and Irish cup matches, narrowly to Cross Keys and a seven try thumping
at Leinster, who were in Jersey’s group last season. Despite this run of form
they have refused to throw in the towel, and are gradually improving. Ealing
travelled to unbeaten London Welsh two weeks ago, the new favourites for
promotion back to the Premiership, and gave a fantastic account of themselves.
Despite being ‘nilled’, they restricted the Exiles to only four tries, and just
seven points in the second half with some fantastic defending. Last weekend
they welcomed London Scottish to Vallis Way. Scottish who had battered Jersey and
beaten fancied Leeds in their last two home matches made hard work of breaking
down the Ealing defence before running away late in the second half.
Despite
their previous seasons exploits Ealing have found scoring points hard to come
by, only averaging just over eight points a game (to Jersey’s 19), and with
only seven league tries scored all season it is a tough period for the club. A
measure of how far both clubs have come is that despite the close nature of the
previous seasons battles, Jersey will be out and out favourites to win the
match, and the home faithful will accept nothing less than a four try bonus
point win. Although with each match Ealing are getting better and adapting to
Championship life, any complacency will be punished. Ealing will be hell bent
on securing their first win in a game that has become pivotal at the bottom of
the table. Jersey will do well to remember the explosive pace Ealing possess in
wing Phil Chesters, a previous try scorer at St Peter, and Jersey old boy
Andrew Henderson, (Ealings top try scorer this season with two), will also be
keen to impress on his old stamping ground.
Who to look out for:
Adam Preocanin
DoB: 22nd
October 1987
Height: 197cm
Weight: 115kg
Position: Second Row
Kent-born Preocanin joined the Club early in their promotion season from National One. He quickly established himself as a key member of the team with strong performances in the second row, scoring three tries in 26 starts. These performances have continued in the Championship this season having been awarded the captain’s armband for this season. Originally signing for the Saracens academy as a youngster, he then made appearances for England in age group rugby, Preocanin moved to Australia where he played for Queensland Reds A, Queensland University and Easts.
Ed Siggery
DoB: 18th
July 1991
Height: 192cm
Weight: 110kg
Position: Back Row
Welshman Siggery joined Ealing in the summer of 2013 from Pontypridd, having previously played for London Irish where he made his Aviva Premiership debut in 2011. He also has turned out for London Welsh and Llandovery. Siggery represented Wales at under-16, 18 and 20 levels, playing and scoring in the Junior World Cup. This will be his second trip to St Peter having played in both British and Irish cup ties for Ponty against Jersey last term. He made history this season by scoring Ealing’s first ever home try in the Championship, against Cornish Pirates.
Andrew Henderson
DoB: 11th
November 1987
Height: 180cm
Weight: 88kg
Position: Full Back
Andrew Henderson arrived at Vallis Way in 2012 from Barking, helping them win promotion from National One. Since the start of the season the 26-year-old has established himself at fullback where his sureness under the high ball and swiftness of foot mark him out as a counter-attacking threat. The former Jersey player has also played in the centres and on the wing. ‘Hendo’ left Jersey and subsequently turned out for the England Counties side. Despite Barking’s relegation that season, he top scored with eleven tries as his former and future employers battled for the title.
Phil Chesters
DoB: 29th
October 1987
Height: 189cm
Weight: @
Position: Wing
The pacy winger is a player well-known to the Jersey faithful after his try-scoring exploits over the past season. In total Chesters has scored 170 tries for Ealing in a little over 115 games (70 in a single season), and marked his and Ealing’s Championship debut with a try against London Scottish, which came less than six months after he was involved in a serious car accident that ended his season and nearly killed him. He has represented the England Counties side, and as Jersey will remember, any space awarded to him will be punished.
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