EARLY PROMISE FADES TO GREY AS IGNATIANS FLATTER TO DECEIVE

It proved to be a bad day in the office for Enfield Ignatians as they suffered a 45-15 reverse to visiting Welwyn in the Herts-Middlesex Counties One clash at Donkey Lane on Saturday 2 December.

Looking to build on their positive displays against Old Streetonians and Datchworth, Ignatians matched strides with Welwyn in an even first-half, and they responded positively to the visitors’ opening try on the far-right flank with a ten-point flurry.

Fullback Paul Duke, having narrowly missed with his first kick at goal, made no mistake with his second attempt from the tee, having trimmed the deficit to two points after nailing a penalty after Welwyn strayed offside on their own 22.

The ability of Frank Antwi to break the gainline also gave Ignatians’ vital momentum, and the hosts forged a 10-5 lead after Carl Asare Anderson, who pulled play in-field, but above all Euan Renny, who cut a very lovely line and showed good evasive skills, which set up the surging Nathaniel Clarke for a very well worked try.

Duke added the extras but the slender five-point lead evaporated in the blink of an eye, as Welwyn’s skilful half-backs got behind the Ignatians’ defence, and the successful inside return pass yielded a converted try and a 12-10 half-time lead - slightly against the run of play.

Ignatians exploded out of the blocks in the second-half as, within minutes, Seyi Adeosun, having latched on to Frazer Briers’ pass and brushed off the attentions of three Welwyn defenders, ran in from 30 metres as the hosts went 15-12 up.

However, Ignatians subsequently got their exit strategy badly wrong as, having eschewed the relieving kick up-field, they tried to break out of their own 22 by playing through the hands, and it all went pear-shaped as Ignatians gifted Welwyn a soft interception try.

It was to prove a blow from which Ignatians never really recovered, as it knocked the wind clean out of their sails, and a rampant Welwyn, with the penalty count now massively in their favour, pulled the hosts apart with a four try salvo.

Consequently, what had proved a close game became a rout, and although Ignatians did rally towards the end it was too little too late – despite the best efforts of Tom MacDougall, who shared the Man of the Match award with an equally tonic Frank Antwi.

Vice captain Euan Renny said: “We played some of our best rugby of the season in the opening 45 minutes when we matched Welwyn’s intensity. However, our heads dropped after the interception try. Although the final score doesn’t fully reflect the game, we conceded too many penalties.”

Ignatians, currently sitting in 11th in the Counties One Herts-Middlesex table, face two vital pre-Christmas games. They’re away to Hackney on Saturday (December 9th) before hosting the side propping up the table, Hampstead, in another crunch clash a week later.

Squad: Paul Duke, Ben Roper, Lucas Yoxall, Carl Asare-Anderson, Frazer Briers, Tom MacDougall, Daniel Shaw, Farhad Fayaz, Matt Pollard (Ken Carroll) Matt Georgiou, Seyi Adeosun, Nathaniel Clarke (Calum Middleton), Frank Antwi, Euan Renny, Wes Warren, , (Jake Baker).
Tries: Nathaniel Clarke, Seyi Adeosun.
Conversions (1): Paul Duke
Penalties (1): Paul Duke
MOM (joint): Frank Antwi and Tom MacDougall.