ENFIELD LOSE THEIR WAY AFTER PROMISING OPENING

MATCH REPORT: NOVEMBER 10

COUNTIES ONE HERTS-MIDDLESEX

FINCHLEY 44 ENFIELD IGNATIANS 5

ENFIELD LOSE THEIR WAY AFTER PROMISING OPENING

Enfield Ignatians’ poor run of form continued against Finchley in the unfamiliar environs of a league game played under floodlights at the Summers Lane on Friday evening, as opposed to the standard format of Saturday afternoons, writes Jonathan Landi.

Not that there was any hint of what was to come in the early exchanges, as Ignatians, having got on the front foot, forced Finchley into conceding a penalty between half-way and their ten-metre line, only for the kick at goal to sail wide.

However, after reclaiming possession from the ensuing 22-metre drop out, the visitors ran a lovely line off Tom Macdougall, who in turn set up his fellow centre Femi Adeosun for a very well worked try.

It should have been the passport to better things but, if anything, falling behind on the scoreboard seemed to galvanise Finchley, and having cleverly sucked in Ignatians via a multi-phased attacked, they were soon back on level terms.

This seemed to give Finchley plenty of confidence when it came to spreading the ball into the wide areas, and consequently the in-form hosts claimed two further tries after stretching the visitors’ defence to breaking point.

Not that Finchley embraced a one-dimensional approach. As they also started to exploit the space behind the Ignatians’ defence, and they wrapped up the bonus point after a neatly placed kick, followed by some nifty footwork, set up the Finchley winger.

Ignatians, staring at half-time deficit, needed to come out of the blocks flying in the second-half if they were get anything out of the game.
Instead, they continue to wane as a force. Hindered by a faltering line out, compounded by slow service from the breakdown, meant that further scoring opportunities for the visitors were few and far between.

Consequently, the visitors’ static approach made them easy meat for the Finchley defence, and the hosts’ ability to force Ignatians increasingly on to the back foot, generated further scoring opportunities as the hosts sailed imperiously clear.

Head coach Jack Wilson said: “All in all, it was a tough Friday night at Summers Lane, and even though our attacking play, and particularly in the first ten minutes, was among the best of the season, the rest of the match was pretty disappointing. Our Man of the Match was Tom Buckland (PICTURED). Excellent at the back, he made some great breaks in attack, and particularly so in the first-half.”

Ignatians taste further league action on Saturday when Old Streetonians are the visitors to Donkey Lane.

Team: Tom Buckland, Glory Makabukidi, Tom McDougall, Femi Adeosun (Ethan Renny 45-50), Ben Roper, Jack Wilson (Ethan Renny 60), Paul Duke, Matt Georgiou, Sam Hatchett, Fadee Fayaz, (Jake Baker 65), Wes Warren, Seyi Adeosun (Jake Baker 30-35) (Feidhlim Ginty 65), Lucas Yoxall, Euan Renny, Frank Antwi.
Tries: Femi Adeosun.
MOM: Tom Buckland.