Champ Rugby: Ealing Trailfinders 34-33 Worcester Warriors

A tense, back-and-forth game saw Will Reed denied by the post in a last-minute goal kick, confirming a narrow 34-33 victory for Ealing.

The victory sees Ealing just three victories from the record for the most consecutive wins since the RFU's restructuring of Division One into the Champ.

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Clearly up for the occasion, Warriors started the game fast and hard, coming within inches of the Ealing line twice within the opening six minutes.

But a mix of stalwart defence and penalties won saw the hosts hold out before coming good in their first encroachment into Warriors territory.

First Scott Buckley found a way over from a driving maul after a line-out in the corner, and in the blink of an eye they found their second score as Francis Moore intercepted a Warriors pass and was allowed to race through, free, to the Warriors line.

Dan Jones came good on the second of his two conversions, finding the hosts an early 12-point advantage.

Moments later Warriors finally got back into the game. Pushing the hosts back into their own territory, Ealing opted to kick and clear.

Billy Twelvetrees smartly chased down the kick, claimed possession and dived on top of it, before Reed brought the game within five.

The positive response continued as a series of pick-and-go's saw Warriors inch closer to the Ealing line.

A penalty ultimately gave the opportunity for a barraging Austin Wallis to force his way over, evening the score up at 12-apiece.

Ealing were quick to reclaim the lead as Dan Jones kicked a penalty under the posts but seconds later Warriors again held the advantage.

In similar fashion to the first, the visitors opted for a tap-and-go penalty from close in, with Obinna Nkwocha the man to force a way over this time, before Reed added the extras.

Josh Taylor stole the lead back, charging over from close in, but Warriors were unwilling to go into the break trailing.

Taylor kicked away from deep, before Juan Gonzalez claimed it, kicked it back and claimed his own kick.

The Uruguayan raced free before offloading to Josh Bassett to run it in under the posts on his competitive debut for Warriors, sending the visitors into the break with a four-point lead.

Soon after the restart, Ealing reinstated a one-point lead, going over through the driving maul.

After a stilted period for both sides, Roma Zheng flew down the wing to put the visitors back in the driving seat before Reed added two more to provide a six-point Warriors lead with a quarter hour to play.

Ealing instantly responded as Craig Hampson dummied and drove over from close in, before Jones reinstated the single-point lead for the hosts.

With minutes left Hampson was shown yellow for a challenge on Tom Hendrickson. Will Reed opted to kick from the penalty but was denied from the narrowest of margins, hitting the post and confirming a narrow defeat.