1871 2nds 59 Belsize Park 7

The 1871 2nds put in a clinical and spirited performance to strengthen their hold on second place in Middlesex Merit Table 1 and move comfortably ahead of third-placed Belsize Park, scoring nine tries in the process.
On a typically dull January day but with no significant breeze to contend with, Ealing went straight onto the attack, and the pressure finally told with space created for centre Manual Viviani to cross close to the posts, fly half Enrico Rolfo adding the conversion. The big home pack, who caused problems to their opponents throughout the 80 minutes, forced a succession of penalties close to the try line around the 20-minute mark, three for standing up in the scrum and one for a high tackle. A penalty try or yellow card looked likely to come at any moment, but Ealing were eventually penalised themselves. Undaunted, the home team counter-attacked soon afterwards through full back Lewis Steadman, and Jack Marsh touched down on the right, with Rolfo adding the extras. A strong finish to the half was rewarded with an uncoverted try wide out on the left by centre Stan Duhamel.
Urged by coach Mark Percival to continue to show the same intensity and accuracy in the second half and not to shed any points, Ealing instead conceded just 2 minutes after the re-start with a forwards’ try, but soon afterwards made amends with a try by flanker Nyall Wake, well converted by Rolfo. Despite being 26-7 down, Belsize Park showed good spirit and enjoyed a period of ascendancy before the Ealing forwards eventually won a turnover. With three-quarters of the game gone, Wake notched a second score of the afternoon by crashing against the upright. Belsize Park were understandably beginning to show signs of fatigue after taking a pounding in the set scrums, and replacement Kennena Chukwuma finished off a sweeping movement by the back line, converted by Rolfo. With 6 minutes left on the clock there was still time for another three scores. First scrum half Adam Gilbert, making an impressive debut, scored after captain Liam McDonagh had opted for a scrum instead of a penalty kick and the forwards had driven all the way to the line. Second row David Vater capped a fine performance by breaking away and cantering under the posts, and finally replacement wing Toby Holt finished a move on the left wing. Two of the last three tries were converted by Steadman after Rolfo had left the field.
An outstanding performance, one of the best seen this season, was notable for strength in every department, but the man of the match award went to flanker David Niven, who tackled and carried powerfully all afternoon.