Pulsars Regain Bradley Knight Cup

The Enfield Pulsars convincingly bounced back from their Middlesex Cup exit with a dominant 34-0 victory in the annual Bradley Knight Cup game away to Cheshunt. The Bradley Knight Cup now sits proudly behind the bar at HQ. Victory was all the sweeter as this was the Pulsars fourth attempt (one defeat, two draws previously) to win the cup.

In a hard fought (but one sided) game, the Pulsars ran in 6 tries (2 converted) and were comfortable winners. The hours before the game were anything but comfortable, as the side scrambled around for players: however, the quality of the rugby played on Saturday evening gave no clue as to the patchwork nature of this side. It was cohesive, incisive, incessant.

The Bradley Knight Cup is something embedded in the fabric of the proud Cheshunt club. They defended it with pride, spurred on by huge support from the sidelines. Pulsars opted to play up the infamous Rosedale slope in the opening half, with the aim of keeping the scores close in preparation for a second half onslaught in more favourable conditions in the second.

The game kicked off with its usual intensity with Cheshunt's powerful pack looking to disrupt the Pulsars' ball and the Pulsars looking to make their superior speed around the park pay dividends. Pulsars took advantage of the game being played with uncontested scrums and put out the smallest front row known to man. It wasn't long before having 7 back row forwards in the pack started to pay dividends as the pack produced clean ball time after time for the Pulsars backs, who were electric on the day.

Whilst the Pulsars looked razor sharp in attack, they were also rock solid and aggressive in defence and it was from this aggression that the opening score came. Georgiou – a defensive rock all day (Editor's note!) – made a tackle on the Cheshunt winger that caused the ball to spill and the ball dropped kindly for Chris Grilli to score. The resulting conversion was missed. 0-5.

Galea rose like a salmon to claim the resulting restart and the Pulsars built again. The quality of Jim Galea's restart work stopped Cheshunt building any momentum in the game; time and time again he claimed the ball under intense pressure.

The next try was scored by debutant Vinnie Murphy. After more incisive passing and running rugby, the ball fell to Murphy in midfield, who darted past the Cheshunt defence for the away side's second score. The try was converted by Gardener for 0-12

The game entered a crucial phase; Pulsars were all too aware that 12-0 was the lead that they let slip in last year's game and they stepped up their intensity to guard against complacency. When Cheshunt span it wide, they were rebuffed by Georgiou and Gardener; when they pushed through the forwards, Pulsars made tackle after tackle and drew errors. If Cheshunt were asking the questions, Pulsars had all the answers. Cheshunt brought on fresh legs in an attempt to turn the tide.

As Pulsars established their ascendancy, Cheshunt began to take risks and the penalty count grew. From one such penalty came the next score: Deano Gardener's punt brilliant chased by James Garman and Shane O'Brien who combined to put James Power under the posts for 0-17.

The second half began with a spell of fierce Cheshunt pressure, a series of pick and gos from their powerful pack. Pulsars stood firm and used the advantage of the slope to send the Cheshunt pack backwards. A series of energy sapping kicks from returning fly half Leighton Thomas finding their range time and time again. The Pulsars' lineout, however, was wobbly and they were forced to innovate – with James Power trying to catch a couple with his forehead.

Still, territorial advantage paid off quickly. Richard Clack superbly marshalled the powerful Pulsars' runners, sending first Englebrecht, then Galea, then Power on a menacing advance to the Cheshunt line. Spotting the space that had opened up, Clack then sent Pearce on his way. Pearce fed Grilli who found Garman to score for 22-0. Grilli was unfortunately injured the process of assisting Garman – get well soon Chris.

Pulsars were relentless, again on the front foot from the restart. Galea won the ball, Georgiou and Gardener made ground in midfield, Thomas kicked them back into the corner. It was a familiar but unplayable story. Then evergreen fly half Thomas spotted a gap, one fantastic dummy and he was through on the Cheshunt line. Unselfishly (and uncharacteristically) he passed. The ball went to ground and a chance went begging. Nonetheless Thomas was showing no signs of his knee injury and having an exceptional game.

Again the Pulsars advanced, drawing Cheshunt's forwards in to the breakdown, before releasing their backs into space. Desperate to steal the ball, Cheshunt were penalised for hands in the ruck. Despite running 63 miles in the game, captain Chris Lyons had the presence of mind to take a quick tap, catching the opposition napping, dummied to pass to Georgiou and touched down under the posts. A Gardener conversion made the score 0-29.

The scoring was rounded off when Lyons audition for next year's vacant number 10 shirt took another interesting turn as he produced a dirty chip over the top of the static Cheshunt defence which Garman pounced on for his second score in his last game. Quite a sign off.

The game finished there. A game played in fantastic spirit by two teams with huge mutual respect for each other for a fantastic cause. The Pulsars team were ecstatic to finally have their hands on the Bradley Knight Cup. Captain Chris Lyons said, " I'm smiling from ear to ear. That was the perfect performance and the perfect way to end a season. Huge respect to Cheshunt – they are a great side - but we were just too good today."

It wasn't just the end of the season for some, but the end of their career. It would be wrong not to leave the last word to hall of famer, the best ginger (only) fly half Enfield Ignatians have ever had. Saturday marked the last game Leighton Thomas will ever play. When I caught up with him after the game, he said:

"I’m glad it ended playing for the same club where it all started... with over 20 years at Old I’s I have played with lots of friends and have enjoyed every minute of it. From being colts captain to captain of the 2’s with the occasional 1st team call up I’ve represented all the sides the club has.
Now to the Pulsars, this team has made me fall in love with rugby all over again and it’s amazing to be playing with school friends 25 years after leaving St Ignatius. These last 3 years have been the best, by far the most enjoyable. I think we’ve achieved amazing things with this team and have turned back the years for a lot of us.
We've made thousands for charity, reengaged players who had left the club and 4 of us have started coaching the next generation of Ignatians. It's been so rewarding. Although I'm retiring I'll stick around and can't wait to see what the next phase of Pulsars looks like – I really believe they can build on our success and friendship.
My last ever game against Cheshunt in the Bradley Knight Cup was a fitting way to end. This team have been our bogey side since the Pulsars were created and to win 34-0, all I can say is WOW. I wanted to end it all on my terms which I was lucky enough to do. "

(Editor's note: Leighton's Comments have been abbreviated to provide a sense of interest for the reader)