Dominant Ealing run Saints off the park

EX-SAINTS wing Tom Collins led Ealing Trailfinders to a comfortable win over his former club by six tries to four.

- By ROB WILDMAN

"It's a dream come true," he declared after scoring two tries in a memorable win for the Championship leaders.

Collins, who made some 144 appearances for Northampton in a 10-year stint, was joined in the celebrations by another ex-Saint in Reuben Bird-Tulloch.

The centre also scored when he raced away near the end of the first half after returning to the field following a sin bin offence for a deliberate knock on.

Ealing's reward is a semi-final trip to Exeter on Saturday and Collins added: "It's another big game for us and something to look forward to."

Collins and co had started quicker than a reserve Saints team and had demonstrated the winning edge even before home No.8 Iakopo Mapu was dismissed for a high shot on hooker Mike Willemse straight after the interval.

Ealing took full advantage of that dismissal to score two more tries to lead 43-19 before a late try from wing James Ramm cut the deficit.