Ealing Trailfinders captain Rayn Smid says his side are looking to make a statement and start the new year strongly as they travel to Nottingham for their first match of 2020 later tonight.  

The Green and Whites are looking for a big performance to climb the Greene King IPA Championship table after a 26-14 defeat at the hands of Newcastle Falcons last time out.  

That defeat was Ealing’s first in six matches in the league, and despite their lowly league position, Smid knows they will be in for another tough test at Lady Bay.

“Historically Nottingham is a place that we have found tough to visit but we want to kick off the year with a big performance,” the 27-year-old South African said.  

“There is still plenty of rugby to be played this season and we can only take control of our own results so that needs to start on Friday.”

Ealing Times:

The trip north has not been an easy one for Ealing in recent times, with the home side tasting victory in each of the last four meetings between the two sides in Nottingham.

But the hosts have not been in the greatest form of late in the Championship with just one victory in their last five outings in the league, a 29-14 success over Bedford Blues back in November.

Ealing’s squad sees four changes from their last outing, with two up front and two in the backs, as Trailfinders look for a victory to keep them in the hunting pack at the top of the table.

Jordan Els, Alun Walker and Elliot Millar Mills will start in the front-row this evening, with Dave McKern and Harry Casson continuing in the second-row after impressing in recent weeks.

Kieran Murphy returns to the back-row, alongside Jordy Reid and Smid, with the captain looking to continue where he finished 2019, after scoring a try in each of his last two appearances.  

Craig Hampson and Steven Shingler maintain their half-back partnership, while Pat Howard is back in the midfield at inside centre next to David Johnston.

Ealing Trailfinders team to play Nottingham on Friday 10th January at Lady Bay in the Greene King IPA Championship:

15 Tommy Bell 14 Elijah Niko 13 David Johnston 12 Pat Howard 11 Reon Joseph 10 Steven Shingler 9 Craig Hampson 1 Jordan Els 2 Alun Walker 3 Elliot Millar Mills 4 Dave McKern 5 Harry Casson 6 Kieran Murphy 7 Jordy Reid 8 Rayn Smid (c) 

Replacements:

16 Matt Cornish 17 Jake Ellwood 18 Craig Trenier 19 Sam Dickinson 20 Ben West 21 Jordan Burns 22 Lewis Jones 23 Shane Buckley