It was a Enfield Player Ignatians Player Awards’ night with a difference as the women’s section became an integral part of the proceedings for the very first time in the club’s history, with Claire both coming up trumps as regards securing awards.

Captain Claire Butcher proudly reflected in her speech that there was no senior women’s team at the club, until all that changed last September when EIRFC broke new ground by staging an exhibition game against its Finchley counterparts at Donkey Lane.

Since then, the senior women’s team has enthusiastically embraced the club’s revamped and more female friendly facilities at the club, unveiled by the RFU President Deborah Griffin, plus the Inner Warrior Series.

Claire Butcher has also broken new ground by recently representing the newly created Middlesex Womens Veterans’ team. Pitted against their Hertfordshire counterparts, Middlesex scored a narrow win in a hard-fought affair at Harpenden RFC.

Relative to the men’s senior player awards, versatile backrower Sam Rushmer, deployed in a number of positions, secured two awards, namely the players’ player and try of the season (scored against Kilburn Cosmos) accolades.

The contributions of Henry Sibley (Coach’s Player of the Year), Frank Antwi (best tackle), Jack O’Toole (best sidestep) were also recognised, in addition to those of Finlay MacKay, (Steve ‘Quincy’ Ward award) Alfie Fordham (Lucas Yoxall Trophy), Declan Linnane and Curtis Young.

Junior section chairman Andy Roper was awarded the Clubman of the Year award, which is a reflection of the vibrancy of the youth teams at the club – ranging from minis to the Senior Academy.

The dream season of Niamh Gallagher, the former Enfield Tigers (the female wing of Enfield Ignatians), continues as she rifled over two conversions in Trailfinders’ 41-39 win over leaders Gloucester-Hartpury in the Women’s Premiership.

The win was instrumental in Trailfinders securing a play-off sport. Gallagher, 20, has also been capped for Ireland at senior level in the Women’s Six Nations games against Wales and Scotland this season.