IGNATIANS CAUGHT COLD AS BILL MOUNTS ON THE SCOREBOARD

SENIOR OVERVIEW: SEPTEMBER 30

ENFIELD IGNATIANS 17 RUISLIP 61

It proved a bad day in the office for Enfield Ignatians who delivered a stuttering performance in the 61-17 home defeat to Ruislip in the Counties One Herts-Middlesex clash at Donkey Lane on Saturday.

Very quick out of the blocks, Ruislip made a dream start and, with Ignatians nowhere to be seen in the first quarter, the visitors filled their boots by crossing the whitewash three times, which included a penalty try, with Ignatians sanctioned by a yellow card after fullback Tom Buckland dragged a player back.

Down to 14, Ignatians were up against it numerically at least but, ironically, they enjoyed their most productive period and they came back on
the scoreboard via centre Tom MacDougall following some excellent build-up play.

Jack Wilson, having also landed a penalty, added the extras.

Having subsequently carved a four man overlap, Ignatians looked odds-on to score, but with a Ruislip slapping the ball down at a key moment, the referee was left with little alternative but to award the penalty try, with the visitors also incurring a yellow card for their pains.

However, just as they had made in-roads, Ignatians conceded a fourth try close to the stroke of half-time which resulted in a 31-17 deficit.
Ignatians were far from down and out, but their lack of precision came back to haunt them, as they squandered four to five gilt-edged chances with silly mistakes at key moments after the interval, and consequently failed to trouble the scoreboard.

Not that the far more clinical Ruislip had such problems. Getting good width on their game and far more ruthless in execution, and with Ignatians also dropping off tackles, the visitors went beyond recall by adding a further five tries to their nine-try haul.

Acting captain Frank Antwi, carrying on where he had left off against Hampstead, was Ignatians’ Man of the Match for the second consecutive week.

Head coach Jack Wilson said: “Although we weren’t in a position to win the game, I would at least expected us to come away with a losing bonus point by scoring four tries. However, we made too many simple errors. It was all very frustrating.”

Ignatians are due to travel away to Hitchin in their next league fixture. However, by common agreement a fixture, originally pencilled-in for Saturday, will instead be played on Thursday (October 5) under lights at Old Hale Way.

Squad: Tom Buckland, Dan Birkbeck, (Glory Makabukidi 55) Tom MacDougall, Femi Adeosun, Cairo Sango (Dan Birkbeck 65), Jack Wilson, (Ben Roper 50), Paul Duke (Jack Wilson 65), Matt Georgiou, Matt Pollard (Alex McCall 20-60) Fadee Fayaz, Seyi Adeosun, Calum Middleton, Nathaniel Clarke, Lucas Yoxall, Frank Antwi ©.

Tries: Tom MacDougall, Penalty try.
Conversions (1): Jack Wilson, penalty.
Penalty (1): Jack Wilson