MUCH SOUL SEARCHING NEEDED AFTER RECORD DEFEAT

The 100-7 away defeat to Old Streetonians is the highest defeat suffered by Enfield Ignatians at level seven, and it eclipsed even the 92-3 loss to HAC in the heart of the Square Mile in the 2021-22 season, writes Jonathan Landi.

At the same time, the 17 players which took the field, deserve a big pat on the back. As it can’t have been easy taking to the field given the current poor run of form, and with the spectre of relegation to level eight looming ever larger.

The emotions fluctuated wildly after the game and they were a broad spectrum of anger, frustration and bewilderment. Above all they were a cry for help and the club needs to come together as soon as possible so to come up with lasting solutions to the current predicament.

It’s also worth reflecting that the last time the two sides met in November a combative Ignatians pushed Old Streetonians all the way in the 11-5 defeat. This time round, however, it was never a contest.

Still, it wasn’t all one-way traffic. Scrum-half Jack O’Toole almost embarrassed his opposite number after almost darting clear from the base, and centre Carl Asare-Anderson made a couple of good breaks, but otherwise the Ignatians’ guns were largely muted in a one sided-first half.

A mounting injury count also reared its ugly head, with centre Daniel Shaw (in the warm up), fullback Tom Buckland (inside the first quarter) both sidelined through injury, - calling for further readjustment - which they could ill afford, in the ranks.

The former’s injury inevitably meant Euan Renny, a flanker by trade, having to cover at centre, with prop Matt Pollard moving from the bench as stand-in for the vice-captain, with another sub, Richard Carroll, introduced to the fray after Tom Buckland was forced off.

Ignatians also lost Frank Antwi to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on, and, given the added disruption, the first-half turned into one way traffic as Old Streetonians filled their boots in the form of a seven try haul which yielded an unassailable 41-0 half-time lead.

There was no let-up in the second period as a rampant Old Streetonians, using the full extent of the field to devastating effect and with the support constantly at hand, continued to turn the screw at every opportunity, as the visitors, to their credit, tried hard. if in vain, to stem the tide.

Although they copped a second yellow card after Euan Renny suffered temporary banishment (high tackle), the visitors endeavoured to tighten up and dig-in, and they were at their most resilient in the period after half-time, and in the aftermath of shipping their 13th try.

By now cut hopelessly adrift at 79-0 down, they refused to throw in the towel, and instead they lay furious siege to the Old Streetonians try, with a very tonic Frank Antwi, Richard Carroll, Jack O’Toole and Matt Pollard all sighting the line.

There was no let-up in the barrage and, eventually, Ignatians claimed the try they craved, with Ken Carroll, running a lovely line off Jack O’Toole, crashing through for his collector’s item of a try, having last scored at first team level in 2012 following the 34-29 win over Stowmarket. He said: “We had repeated penalties on the Old Streetonians’ line. I picked a line off Jack O’Toole and went over.”

Old Streetonians were to unpick the Ignatians’ lock three more times, but at least the visitors had rescued a modicum of pride on an afternoon when Jack O’Toole and Frank Antwi were the standout players.