IGNATIANS DIG DEEP AND REDISCOVER THEIR MOJO

ENFIELD IGNATIANS left the Hobbs Way arena with their heads held high after delivering a wonderfully combative performance which characterised the 32-12 loss to Welwyn on Saturday (March 16), writes Jonathan Landi.

The rank outsiders in a two horse race, the visitors belied their massive underdog status by showing the hunger and desire which had been in short supply against Old Streetonians, and the transformation was quite startling. Yes, rugby is truly a game played in the mind.

As a predominantly forward-orientated team, with a mere three backs in its midst, rose splendidly to the occasion despite the obvious handicap, and, to a man, they put in a huge shift which spoke loudly to team spirit and a certain cussed attitude.

Although under pressure in the tight, they made a bloody nuisance of themselves at the breakdown, and they supplemented their work rate around the paddock by tackling everything that moved, and impressing with the quality of their support play.

For a large part of the first-half it worked like a treat as they successfully slowed down the ball, and so denying frustrated Welwyn the quick ball that their young backline craved, although the pendulum swung the way of the hosts late in the first-half.

The sin-binning of Matt Georgiou (dangerous tackle) saw the visitors reduced to 14, and Welwyn cashed-in on their numerical superiority by at last clicking into gear and claiming three tries, all down the far right flank, as the hosts led 15-0 at the interval.

Playing up the slope in the second-half, Ignatians would have had cause to view proceedings with a certain trepidation. Not a bit of it as, with Matt Georgiou restored to the ranks, they continued to ask questions of the Welwyn defence, whose lock forward was sin-binned for repeat team infringement.

Having started to shade the penalty count, they had plenty of go forward and, from the back of the scrum, Wes Warren, a sprightly 42, rolled back the years by unleashing a trademark dart from the ten-metre line, before brushing aside the attentions of the Welwyn flanker.

The backrower subsequently unleashed a neat grubber kick which sat invitingly near the corner, and a neat piece of enterprise was fittingly rewarded after the supporting Euan Renny followed up by managing to beat the cover and dot down.

Things went a little awry after that in a move which promised much with Alex McCall, a hooker/prop by trade but clearly very at home in the centre, fired off a neat-lobbed pass which fell neatly into the lap of fullback, Cairo Sango, lurking on the left wing.

The latter found himself in a one-on-one situation but he rather came off worse vis-à-vis his opposite number, having decided to jump into the tackle, and it was while he was effectively out of the game, and undergoing treatment, that Welwyn attacked at pace to go 17 points clear.

Again, Ignatians responded. Undaunted by three earlier unsuccessful attempts to rumble the ball over the line from three attacking lineouts 5m out, they fashioned a try which bore the firm imprint of the sons of Cyprus, Farhad Fayaz and Matt Georgiou.

Some neat interplay between the two internationals set the wheels in motion, and with the forwards continuing to carry hard and gain ground through multiple phases, play crept ever closer to the line, with scrum-half Tom MacDougall eventually playing-in Matt Georgiou who crashed over under the sticks.

Carl Asare-Anderson, one of the rare backs on display and the author of a very effective display at ten, added the extras, and the tension in the Welwyn camp started to mount in the wake of the visitors having moved to within ten points.

However, Ignatians, having given everything to the cause, had blown their load and, with the petrol gauge running on empty in the dying exchanges, they dropped off tackles as Welwyn finished on a high by adding two further tries to give the final scoreline a flattering look.

Head coach Jack Wilson said: “The heart and commitment we showed was up with the best we have showed all year. Our go forward and the way we backed each other was excellent. We can come away with our heads held high and can take some pride [from the performance].”

Ignatians are at home on Saturday which marks the final President’s Lunch of outgoing president Kevin Linnane.

Squad (all used): Cairo Sango, Euan Renny, Frank Antwi, Alex McCall, Ben Hammond, Carl Asare-Anderson, Tom MacDougall, Ken Carroll, Sam Hatchett, Farhad Fayaz, Calum Middleton, Jake Baker, Matt Georgiou, Matt Pollard, Wes Warren, Stuart Blemings.
Tries: Euan Renny, Matt Georgiou. Conversion: Carl Asare-Anderson.