It proved to be a difficult trip up North for the Ealing team who were already missing several players, but then lost two further players on the morning, including their only available goalkeeper who was ill overnight. So the trip was made with just nine court players.

The Warrington trio of England U20 players at the back caused a lot of problems early on for the Ealing defence, while in attack Ealing were unlucky to see six shots come off the goalposts. As the pressure told, Ealing slipped to a 4-12 deficit mid way through the first half and continued to struggle to find their rhythm, reaching half-time 6-18 down. The game was played with a very high intensity by the Warrington team, taking its toll on Ealing’s shorthanded team.

While it would have been easy to drop heads at half time, the team set itself the target of slowing the pace and winning the second half. Showing incredible team spirit Ealing set about the task with renewed energy and quickly inflicted an 8-2 reverse on Warrington, who were now struggling to get back into their rhythm. Ealing’s pressure continued, but the gap was too big to make-up and in the end we lost by a respectable 18-25.

Every player made a significant contribution in the game, with a much improved defensive display in the second half, and the team were grateful to the court players who agreed to rotate in goal.

Ealing Head Coach Paul Bray commented “It was always going to be an uphill struggle with only nine players and no goalkeeper, but we are extremely proud of the way the team reacted in the second half to fight-back and take the game to Warrington. They left everything on court and finished exhausted, but we can draw many positives from this game”.

The team will now go into the Championship play-offs on 20 March to decide places 5-8.

Ealing team (goals in bracket): Matt Lacour (4), Oliver Bray (4), Diogo Simoes (5), Saimonas Urbutis, Manvir Aulakh, Noah Bridges (3), Matt Ellis, Dan Rogers (2), Seb Kowalewski