Mowden push leaders all the way

ANOTHER terrific game at The Northern Echo Arena kept 948 fans enthralled as Mowden continued to rattle the unbeaten National One leaders until the final whistle.

The losing bonus point was the least Mowden deserved for an impressively spirited display in a contest from which their young tyros will have learnt much.

The visitors packed more power up front and were more streetwise as they bossed the scrums for the first 50 minutes and tested the referee's policing of off-side.

But when they might have succumbed after conceding tries in the tenth and 15th minutes to go 14-0 down, Mowden fought tigerishly and dominated the last 20 minutes, becoming only the third team to deny Ealing a four-try bonus.

Replacement prop Paul Hill, the England Under 20 player, played a prominent part and looks destined to go far, while No 8 Guy van den Dries underlined that he has quickly stepped up to this level.

The benefit of full-time professionalism was seen in Ealing's all-round efficiency and their well-organised defence persuaded Mowden to kick away too much hard-won possession.

After repeatedly being allowed to race home from long distance at Tynedale, both Mowden's tries came from short range. But they were a little unlucky when their final period of domination was sparked by centre Jamie Barnard outpacing the cover up the right.

He went over in the corner but was brought back for a forward pass on halfway then another promising attack was halted by what looked suspiciously like a tip tackle on Henry Robinson. The livewire full back was clearly not happy as he departed with a shoulder injury.

After Tom Hodgson missed an early penalty from 24 metres, Mowden spurned kicks for goal in favour of going for the corner. That's the modern way, but it brought limited success because they couldn't guarantee winning their own line-out ball and Ealing know how to defend against the driving maul.

Ben Rath, the right winger on loan from Rotherham, looked dangerous in attack but two of Ealing's three tries came from breakaways up the left flank.

Assuming Mowden had done their homework, they would have known what was coming for the first as the fly half cross-kicked straight to the prolific Phil Chesters, who brushed off Rath to race home.

Shortly afterwards a chip by Zylon McGaffin allowed Ealing to counter attack and after a kick to the corner they kept the pressure on and the No 8 surged under the posts.

The response was impressively swift as a burst by Callum Mackenzie set up a ruck five metres short, from which lock Rob Conquest picked up to dive over. Hodgson converted from wide on the left.

Mackenzie was just short again before Ealing completed their scoring after 28 minutes when the scrum half was allowed to escape up the left.

His chip forced a five-metre scrum and when Mowden were penalised the visitors opted for another scrum. When that went down the referee awarded a penalty try.

The first half ended with the Ealing hooker stroppily calling for a different ball to throw in. When his throw wasn't straight it brought much derision from the fans then he and his cohorts took exception to the combative Matt Thompson at the ensuing scrum. The half-time whistle dissipated the steam.

Ealing threatened to use their scrum pressure to score again early in the second half. But Mowden bravely held out and turned the tables, harrying the visitors with great gusto.

After 70 minutes a high tackle resulted in a penalty five metres out, from which McGaffin nipped over by the posts to set up the pulsating climax.

Mowden twice sent kickable penalties to the corner with no reward and were still pressing when the referee called a halt with no added time.

As in awarding the penalty try, he seemed a little premature.