Ealing Trailfinders ran in eight tries to blitz fellow high-flyers Bedford Blues 54-21 in an exciting, high-tempo match at the Trailfinders Sports Ground.
Despite London Irish taking the only Greene King IPA Championship promotion spot after a 46-7 victory over Richmond, the hosts in second started brighter against third-placed Bedford.
The home back-row combined well as Ben Landry made good ground before Kieran Murphy tipped on to Rayn Smid, who barrelled over, Craig Willis converting for 7-0.
Scrum-half Jordan Burns then dummied neatly to break the line and fed supporting full-back Will Harries, who dotted down untouched for 14-0.
The visitors went further behind when a wild Will Hooley offload fell nicely to Harries, who sailed in from halfway to make it 21-0.
But Bedford soon hit back, Ed Coulson feeding Dean Adamson, who jinked and jived past six attempted tackles to score, converted by Will Hooley for 21-7.
After 20 minutes the hosts had their bonus point when a superb looping Willis pass found wing James Cordy-Redden, who crossed the whitewash for 26-7, Willis missing the conversion.
Shortly before the break wing Reon Joseph shimmied past Ryan Hutler after good work from Burns and he burned the cover defence to give Ealing Trailfinders a 33-7 half-time lead.
Bedford came out fired-up and off a scrum James Lennon dummied a defender to scoot over for 33-14.
When Bedford flanker Oli Curry was sin-binned for taking out a support runner without the ball, Burns soon made the extra man count, sniping through a gap for 40-14.
On seventy minutes, strong carries from Pat Howard and Will Harries made the space for Murphy to crash through a tiring Blues defence, Willis kicking the extras for 47-14.
The influential Harries then received a yellow card for a high tackle on his opposite man, Bedford’s Rich Lane.
At the death hooker Alun Walker, making his 100th appearance for the home side, barged over from a lineout for 54-14.
A fine individual effort from Pat Tapley in the last play made it 54-21.
Trailfinders travel to league champions London Irish in their final game of the season next Saturday.
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