(April 24-26 ) The Enfield Senior Academy unveiled their Player award winners at their end of season dinner at the clubhouse, with a number of players making strong statements which further underlined the rich seam of potential of this particular age group.

The award winners were William H (players’ player) and Luke R (back’s back of the year), Josh C (forward of the year), Baris (Chris Gill award/Coaches Player of the Year), with two others, Jules and Robin, snaring the Emoji Special award and THE Steve Ward Shield.

The icing on the cake came 48 hours later with a bonanza performance on the field, when the blue and golds stole the thunder of Letchworth 54-40 in a highly entertaining game which proved a great advertisement for running rugby as both teams opened up at Donkey Lane.

A mixed ability Letchworth team, whose first team play three leagues above Ignatians, were certainly the better side in the first-half, with their forward domination, amongst others, underpinning a healthy 33-21 lead.

The visitors’ more fluid backline also wreaked havoc, and each time they worked their electric left winger into the game, Ignatians invariably suffered on the scoreboard.

However, Ignatians did come up with solutions and, just when they seem to have dug themselves into a large hole close to their own line, they threw caution to the wind in the form of an outrageous counter-attack sparked by Luke R and, a couple of passes later, King finished off a sparkling length of the field move.

Keen to lure Letchworth into an arm wrestle at times, Ignatians also made their physicality pay, as a couple of successful close-range efforts from the home pack, in the form of scores from Kaya and Isiah (all converted by Ben), underpinned their efforts.

However, the transformation in the second-half was total, as the Ignatians’ brain trust rung the changes, in the form of the introduction of the bomb squad, which detonated to great effect by lording the try count 5-1 after the break.

After successfully running a penalty close to the line, and a good carry from Ira, Isiah completed his brace, and Kaya did likewise from the platform of a catch and drive close to the Letchworth line.

A searing break from fly-half, Lescine, also opened up the visitors, and the half-back was huge odds-on to score. However, he faltered close to the line, perhaps due to a trip?, but, happily, the supporting James W, was on hand to finish off.

The efforts of the Ignatians’ centre combination, Emmanuel and Mali, were the icing on the cake as two more tries followed, as the home side signed off an productive occasion in the warm sunshine with an eight-try haul, seven of which were converted by Ben.

Ignatians also shut up shop defensively. Watertight in that area, they successfully muzzled the Letchworth attack, and particularly the channel of the left winger, as it was only in the dying throes that the visitors claimed their sole second-half try.

Second in their league, Herts-Middlesex Colts Division Five, the EIRFC Senior Academy have also acted as a stepping stone to the club’s senior team, with two of their number, Luke R and William H, even snaring EIRFC first team Man of the Match awards.

Head coach Andy Roper said: "It was a great performance from the Academy [team). It was an enjoyable way to finish off what has been a long-term journey {in terms of the years at the club} for the players. I was very proud of the team's ability to come from behind [on the scoreboard) and score some great team tries."

(Austrian visitors) On a busy morning, EIRFC were also pleased to host two youth touring sides from Celtic Vienna, whose games against Barnet Elizabethans, were moved to Donkey Lane due to the very firm ground prevalent at Byng Road.