ENFIELD IGNATIANS RESPOND TO THE POWER OF EIGHT AS THE VISITORS CUT LOOSE ON THE HEATH

SENIOR RUGBY NEWS: SEPTEMBER 23

ENFIELD IGNATIANS RESPOND TO THE POWER OF EIGHT AS THE VISITORS CUT LOOSE ON THE HEATH

ENFIELD IGNATIANS didn’t have much to smile about last season but they were feeling far far more chipper after letting rip and clocking up a big score in the 53-39 defeat of arch-rivals Hampstead at the Heath Extension, writes Jonathan Landi.

Recovering from the opening day defeat to Cheshunt, they took to the field with a far stronger squad, including a couple of Academy debutants, and in a Barbarians’ style 14-try extravaganza, in which tackling was an optional extra at times, they claimed the lion’s share of the spoils after running-in eight tries, to claim maximum points.

A fired-up Enfield Ignatians ramped up their physicality via their big ball carriers, and with the Hammers’ fringe defence found wanting, the blue and golds continued to break the gain line almost at will to forge a commanding 34-15 half-time lead.

Although it was first blood to Hampstead with the hosts nailing a penalty for a high tackle – a recurring theme during the afternoon – but, after weathering the early storm, Ignatians roared back within minutes.

Some excellent work from the energetic Euan Renny, who copped a high tackle for his pains, (sanctioned by a yellow card), forced the penalty, and Academy graduate Ben Roper deftly rifled over the equalising kick to level matters.

Ben Roper, enjoying the support of his father and the nephew of former first team stalwart, Andy, enjoyed a very productive afternoon which also yielded five conversions, for a fine personal haul of 13 points. Fellow youngster Erik Nagy also hinted at a bright future ahead with some promising touches on an afternoon when Ben Hammond also made his first 'league' start in club colours.

Gaining prodigious yardage via MOM Frank Antwi from the restart, and with Euan Renny keeping the pressure on at the breakdown, Ignatians forced the penalty and, from the ensuing catch and drive, the visitors’ maul drove straight and true, and Calum Middleton, bedding-in nicely in the pack, nailed the pushover score to open his seasonal account.

Ferocious at the breakdown, Ignatians secured a number of important turnovers, and winger, Glory Makabukidi, also caught the mood perfectly in this area, and his ‘steal’ set in motion a very fluent move as the ball was spread wide and travelled through four pairs of hands.

Right winger, Cairo Sango was the final recipient of the leather, and despite practically hugging the far touchline, he proved to be the escapologist par excellence as his nifty footwork enabled him to cut inside and ‘step’ the final two defenders for a very well worked score.

Hampstead continued to struggle with the constant barrage of Ignatians’ attacks and, when they spread the ball from near their own line, they paid the ultimate price for dropping it, and Hadee Fayaz, the game’s defining physical presence, wasted no time in cashing-in.

The fired-up Cypriot international, a constant thorn in Hampstead’s side and a study in perpetual motion, proved impossible to shackle, and he lapped up the ball before giving the defence the run around to retain the mantle as this season’s top try scorer.

The fourth and fifth tries were signed off by Jack O’Toole. An assured presence at scrum-half, and gaining good length with the bulk of his kicks, he sniped clean through, following excellent work from the restart from Calum Middleton and Frank Antwi (most yardage made in the game) who were key in softening up the defence.

Jack O’Toole completed his brace within three minutes and, with the Ignatians’ attacking maul gaining good traction close to the line, the eagled-eyed half-back spotted a gap in the Hammers’ defence, and he duly capitalised by forcing his way over from close range.

Having also cashed-in on the Hammers’ numerical inferiority (they had two players sin-binned), Ignatians, perhaps erroneously thinking that they had the game won, had a few wobbles of their own as the attack-minded hosts came back on the scoreboard.

Hampstead certainly deserved credit for keeping going through thick and thin, but what was had appeared to be unassailable 31-point cushion, was abruptly trimmed to 19 points, with the hosts twice exposing defensive frailties.

It got worse as, approaching half-time, Ignatians had two players sin-binned, namely Fadee Fayaz (repeat team infringement) and Hadee Fayaz (high tackle), which meant that adjustments were called for, given that that they were down to 13 at the beginning of the second-half.

Ignatians did indeed the messages of the coaching team, Jack Wilson and Christo Kasabi, by attempting to slow the game down in a very critical period after the break, only to twice go off script with near fatal consequences.

They twice turned over the ball in this period and, in the second instance, they conceded the 5m scrum. However, Hampstead critically failed to cash in on these gilt-edged chances, as the visitors breathed a huge collective sigh of relief.

Ironically, once Ignatians regained the full complement, and with the opposition winning another 5m scrum, they failed to pick up the arcing run of the Hammers’ strike runner, as the home side moved to within a couple of scores.

Although it proved just the wake-up call that Ignatians needed and, trading blow for blow on the scoresheet, a three try blitz in the final quarter maintained clear blue water between themselves and Hampstead.

From an attacking lineout close to the Hammers’ line, the returning Lucas Yoxall, having carried effectively and hard all afternoon, enjoyed his moment in the sun following a successful front of the line peel which caught the defence on the hop.

In devil may care mode, Ignatians also opened up from within the 22 and, in a pleasing moment of fluency the ball was spread to the far touchline where Cairo Sango, not for the first time, found himself in very tight quarters.

Doing very well not to clip the touchline, his extra yard of pace just about kept a couple of despairing defenders at bay but, when they eventually ran out of steam, he successfully maintained the momentum to run-in from 50-metres.

The game management of Jack O’Toole proved key in the final score and, mixing and matching his game intelligent, his towering up and under created mayhem in the Hammers’ defence, and Femi Adeosun flourished in the confusion by forcing his way over.

Hampstead, having run hard all afternoon but. bearing little resemblance to the side that beat Ignatians in February, also ended on a high with a three try salvo of their own, and a losing try bonus point was no less than they deserved.

Head coach Jack Wilson said: “It was a good win and it was nice to come away with all five points. We had plenty of go forward and our support play, too, was good. Even we were under the cosh in the second-half our attitude was such that we came back on the scoreboard.”

Ignatians will, however, need to keep their feet firmly on the ground. There are several areas to work on, but at least it’s a step in the right direction ahead of the tough challenge of Ruislip which awaits at Donkey Lane on Saturday.

The squad (all used): Tom Buckland, Erik Nagy, Tom MacDougall, Femi Adeosun, Cairo Sango, Ben Roper, Jack O’Toole, Ken Carroll, Sam Hatchett, Farhad Fayaz, Calum Middleton, Frank Antwi, Hadee Fayaz, Lucas Yoxall, Euan Renny ©, Jake Baker, Ben Hammond, Glory Makabukidi (18).
Try scorers: Calum Middleton, Cairo Sango (two), Hadee Fayaz, Jack O’Toole (two), Lucas Yoxall, Femi Adeosun.
Conversions: Ben Roper (5).
Penalty: Ben Roper (1).
MOM: Frank Antwi.

Counties 1: Herts-Middlesex: September 23
Ruislip 15 - 25 Finchley
London Scottish Lions 14 - 20 Chiswick
Old Streetonians 18 - 13 Hackney
Hitchin 30 - 25 Datchworth
Cheshunt 25 - 20 Welwyn
Hampstead 39 - 53 Enfield Ignatians