LOSING BONUS POINT PROVES A FITTING REWARD FOR A SPIRITED EFFORT

COUNTIES ONE HERTS-MIDDLESEX

CHISWICK 68 ENFIELD IGNATIANS 20

It wasn’t a game which Enfield Ignatians had expected to win but, despite suffering a resounding 68-20 defeat to third-place Chiswick, the visitors did at least collect a losing bonus point for their west London troubles at Dukes Meadows on Saturday (27 January).

And this by virtue of running-in four tries: a feat which they had managed only once previously this season in the 53-39 defeat of Hampstead at the Heath Extension in September.

Not that the final scoreline tells the whole story as spirited Ignatians, their lineout much improved, traded on equal terms with the home team in the first half and, if anything, they were a bit unlucky to be 17-10 adrift at the interval against very pacey opponents.

After shrewdly playing the percentages with some good kicking to the corners from Jack Wilson, including a delicious 50-22 effort, they opened the scoring, ironically after a planned move went awry, only for the surging Euan Renny to come to rescue with a barnstorming run as the Chiswick defence parted like the Red Sea in front of him.

A loose kick invited the Chiswick equaliser but Ignatians successfully responded by attacking the wide channels, and some excellent interplay involving Feidhlim Ginty and fullback Tom Buckland, again exposed the home defence, with the latter eventually forcing his way over in the corner.

Chiswick feasted on turnover ball to draw level and, just when Ignatians threatened to claim a third try following another excellent run from Man of the Match/vice captain Euan Renny (pictured), the visitors fell victim to the sucker punch of a breakaway try on the 4G pitch.

Having weathered initial Ignatians’ pressure, Chiswick opened the scoring in the second half,. Again the visitors responded and, having won the penalty, they drilled the ball to the corner and unleashed a furious barrage of the Chiswick line.

Ignatians worked the ball through multiple phases via their fowards and, when Chiswick infringed again, eagled-eyed scrum-half Tom MacDougall’s successful tap and go ushered in try number three as the half-back forced his way through heavy traffic.

Now within nine points at 24-15 down, it should have been just the tonic that Ignatians craved. Instead, it was the prelude to their worst spell in the game, as a combination of fatigue and lack of focus exposed their defensive frailties, as they leaked four soft tries in a madcap 20-minute spell.

Ignatians did eventually resurface for air late in the game by claiming a fourth try by executing a rehearsed line out drill , primarily involving Euan Renny and Matt Georgiou, [the author of some excellent carries] before the former spotted a gap in the Chiswick defence and plunged his way over.

It was no less than the visitors deserved but one must also credit a very fit and mobile Chiswick team for the unrelenting nature of their attacking game, which ushered in two further tries, and the referee who let the game flow.

Ignatians copped a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on late in the game but, by then, it was all over bar the shouting.

Head coach and fly-half Jack Wilson said: “I was really pleased with the first 40 minutes as we stayed in the fight and scored some good tries. However, I was less so with a very bad 25 minute spell in the second-half, when our fitness was found wanting, although we did eventually rally by claiming our fourth [and losing bonus point] try. ”

Although Ignatians are currently propping up the table, they still have eight games in which to rescue their season, but they will also be acutely aware that the away game against Datchworth on Saturday, the side immediately above them, is the proverbial five pointer.

Team: Tom Buckland, Cairo Sango (Feidhlim Ginty) (Rondel Bernard), Carl Asare-Anderson, Erik Nagy (Cairo Sango). Mapheon Dube, Jack Wilson, Tom MacDougall (Cairo Sango), Farhad Fayaz, Sam Hatchett, Ken Carroll, Nathaniel Clarke, Jake Baker, Matt Georgiou, Liam Horn, Euan Renny.
Tries: Euan Renny (2), Tom Buckland, Tom MacDougall.
MOM: Euan Renny