Hayes RFC turned up the heat on a bitterly cold day in west London. Hayes ran over seven tries to entertain their followers in style.
Ealing took an early lead capitalising on a dropped ball to score and convert 7-0. This only fired Hayes up who hit back instantly with some quick thinking from prop Chris Wells dummying a pass to power his way over in the corner, the kick was missed 7-5. Ealing restarted, and Hayes went straight back at them, moving the ball across the line with a lovely ball back in to Hayden Critchfield who shrugged off his challenger to go over for Hayes second try of the game, the kick was missed 7-10.
With Hayes dominating the scrums and controlling the game scrum half Mark Gardiner passed the ball to Nick Morley out the back of a ruck to break through the Ealing defective line to score! kick missed 7-15 to Hayes. Ealing would pull one back with a driving maul the kick was converted 14-15. With the game swinging both ways it would be Hayes to strike next with what can only be put down to pure power and determination. James Wall smashed through the Ealing defence from about 20 metres out, with one Ealing player hanging of his back, another being dragged behind hanging off his shirt. But this would only slow him down and not stop him from scoring, James Cook converted to make it 14-22 Hayes.
Ealing would up the pressure on the Hayes defence now breaking through only to be held up from some fantastic defending from the fly half James Cook. Eventually Ealing scored and convert 21-22. Hayes would get another try before the break with Hayden Critchfield finding a gap in the defence and breaking away to score his second and Hayes fifth of the afternoon James Cook converted the score 21-29 to Hayes at the break.

The second-half got underway and Ealing went in search of another try. And with Hayes controlling the scrums makings them get the ball out quickly only to be met by the Hayes back row James Wall, Martin Clark and Gareth Richards shutting them down time and time again. Hayes would have their turn in attack and winning a rare penalty, scrum half Mark Gardiner took a quick tap and go to score. James Cook converted to make it 21-36 to Hayes. Ealing would score one more time with a great driving maul from a line out. The conversation was given to make it 28-36. Hayes would keep up the pressure and persistence would finally pay off for number 8 Gareth Richards with a pick and go off the back of a scrum, powering his way over to score, the conversion was converted ending the game Ealing 28-43 Hayes.
Hayes RFC will now face Hampstead at home in the playoffs on the 24th March.

MOM Martin Clark
DOD Hayden Critchfield

By Wayne Palmer