REPORT: Bristol Rugby 63-10 Ealing Trailfinders

Bristol ran in nine tries to storm to a commanding 63-10 victory over Ealing Trailfinders at Ashton Gate.

Ben Mosses and Olly Robinson both scored twice, while Tom Varndell, Charlie Amesbury, Ross McMillan, Max Crumpton and Matthew Morgan also got on the score sheet.

Gavin Henson kicked six conversions and two penalties to finish with an 18-point haul.

Bristol started the match at breakneck speed and took the lead as early as the third minute, when Olly Robinson rumbled over at the back of a powerful driving maul.

Henson converted and was in action from the tee again just three minutes later, to knock over a penalty after Bristol had taken a scrum against the head.

The hosts crossed for their second try of the evening on 13 minutes, when Ben Mosses applied the finishing touches to a sweeping move down the left-hand side, after swift handling from Charlie Amesbury and Mitch Eadie.

Henson converted from the touchline and added another penalty on 22 minutes to open up a 20-0 lead.

Four minutes later, after Ealing had overthrown a lineout inside their 22, Mosses latched on to an offload from James Phillips to cross for his second try of the evening, with Henson adding the extras for 27-0.

The visitors finally got on the scoreboard on the half-hour mark, when Phil Chesters scorched over in the corner, but the conversion was wide and Bristol headed into the half-time interval with a healthy 22-point advantage.

The second-half began much in the same way as the first, with two quick-fire Bristol tries.

First, Tom Varndell was the beneficiary of delicate inside pass from man-of-the-match Ben Mosses, to cruise in under the posts – and shortly after, Amesbury burst through the midfield for Bristol’s fifth of the night.

The hosts scored their sixth on the hour mark, when Ross McMillan applied the finishing touches to a well-worked lineout move – but Ealing hit back with a try courtesy of winger Rhys Crane.

Replacement scrum-half Martin Roberts then sent Olly Robinson in for his second of the evening – and Max Crumpton powered Bristol through the 50-point barrier six minutes later, as the home side cruised towards victory.

There was still time for Matthew Morgan to round off a comprehensive Bristol win with a stunning individual effort – breaking from deep, before chipping ahead and gathering his own kick, to fly over under the posts.

Henson’s conversion completed the rout.

Bristol Rugby:

Luke Arscott; Tom Varndell, Jack Tovey, Ben Mosses, Charlie Amesbury; Gavin Henson, Will Cliff; Jack O’Connell, Marc Jones, Gaston Cortes, Ian Evans, Joe Joyce, James Phillips, Olly Robinson (c), Mitch Eadie.

Replacements: Matthew Morgan (for Luke Arscott, 53mins), Ryan Edwards (for Tom Varndell, 62mins), Martin Roberts (for Will Cliff, 48mins); Ross McMillan (for Marc Jones, 55mins), Jamal Ford-Robinson (for Gaston Cortes, 40mins), Glen Townson (for Ian Evans, 40mins), Max Crumpton (for Mitch Eadie, 68mins).

Ealing Trailfinders:

Sam Stanley; Rhys Crane, Danny Barnes, Toby Howley-Berridge, Phil Chesters; Ben Ward, Alex Walker; Will Davis, Rhys Lawrence, Sam Rodman, Llewelyn Jones, Adam Preocanin, Harrison Orr, Arther Ellis, Danny Kenny (c). 

Replacements: Callum Wilson (for Sam Stanley, 59mins), George Porter (for Will Davis, 57mins), Karl Gibson (for Rhys Lawrence, 61mins),  Chris York (for Arthur Ellis, 20mins).

Referee: Steve Lee

Man of the match: Ben Mosses

Attendance: 5,517