Semi-Final Predictions & Team News

Whilst my heart calls out for a Jersey v Donny final at Castle Park with as much pie as I can eat my head predicts that it is unlikely that Jersey can recover from their epic celebrations and Pirates will edge a tight match on Friday night by a handful of points and at home on Saturday on a fast track in West London Ealing will prevail by at least 10-15 points. All the best everyone - its been a great season with the Siam Cup to look forward to on Saturday.

Edited by corporalcarrot - 04 May 2023 at 13:00

Reds preview/selection

So, here we are down to the final four.
Ealing v Donny…. Ealing have to be huge favs, especially following last week’s sizable win in Doncaster. However, Donny didn’t have anything to play for then, but they do this week, so don’t be surprised if Donny take it deep into the game. My gut feel is a 45-30 home win.
Pirates v Jersey…. The Reds will have it all to do in Pirate country. A large, partisan crowd, a long journey and having to pick themselves up again following the highs of last weekend. Forget the league, this is the cup and Pirates will be right up for this. Expect them to go hard at Jersey from the start. Should Jersey weather the storm, then they ‘may’ begin to get a strangle hold on the game and if they can get a couple of scores up going into the final 10, then they could pick Pirates off as they go for it.
Finally, it is great to see Scott VB back in the Jersey side having missed the last 4 months through injury.
Both games should be cracking to watch.
Go well guys!

Ealing Trailfinders team to face Doncaster Knights: Interesting to see Lancaster at 10 again. Perhaps one of the more experienced 10s for Ealing won't return? Willis is injured, but Shingler is on the bench. Also interesting to see Uzokwe at 8 over Digby. Congrats to Luke Daniels for his hundredth cap. I think that there are at least 3 centurions in the side (Walker and Will Davis). 

15. Cian Kelleher

14. Luke Daniels (100th Ealing Trailfinders appearance)

13. Max Bodilly

12. Reuben Bird-Tulloch

11. Jonah Holmes

10. Dan Lancaster

9. Craig Hampson

1. James Gibbons

2. Shaun Malton

3. Lewis Thiede

4. Bobby De Wee

5. David O'Connor

6. Adam Korczyk

7. Ollie Newman

8. Simon Uzokwe

Replacements

16. Alun Walker

17. Will Davis

18. George Davis

19. Barney Maddison

20. Simon Linsell

21. Jordan Burns

22. Steven Shingler

23. Jack Digby

HT Pirates 12 Reds 14, visitors may kick themselves for not scoring more than twice, while hosts stayed in touch & struck in last play against 14 men (38th-min YC to centre Van Breda)

19-35, not entirely sure how long to go as long stoppage but less than 10 would think.

That’s it ft 24-35

Edited by castleparknight - 05 May 2023 at 21:37

Thanks for your kind words Stalwart about Tom Everard (annoyingly and lazily described as 'the Jersey player' throughout the 16-minute stoppage by Radio Dreckly commentator John Martin, who I thought was better than that)... we lost 2 second rows today but hopefully may still have 3 who will be available for the final.

Ealing 7 (1T) - Doncaster 0 - 8'. Beautiful chip through by Lancaster, gathered by Bird Tulloch to score. The pitch is slicker than snot.

Ealing 17 (2T) - Doncaster 0 - 31'' Another well weighted chip by Dan Lan, gathered by Jonah Holmes to score under the posts after breaking two tackles.