Can ENFIELD IGNATIANS go through their three match tour of Canada unbeaten? They are certainly on course after performing heroics to deny Burlington Centaurs 14-12 at Sherwood Forest Park, Ontario, on Wednesday, writes Jonathan Landi.

Adding to their win against Crusaders RFC 48 hours earlier, the tourists shaded a hard fought and bruising encounter in which they could well have derailed following injuries to first team stalwarts, Liam Horn, Charlie Hoy and Alex McCall, and the experienced Phil Tucker.

The latter, a former first team centre and a veteran of past tours, fractured his scapula, and, in view of the dwindling playing resources, the tourists drafted in veterans Dave French (the club chairman), Gareth Williams and Steve Renny, in order to make up the numbers.

It speaks volumes for Ignatians’ cohesiveness, which found its full expression in a titanic defence and a never say die attitude, that the tourists hung on for a famous win, having led 14-0 at the break following scores from forwards Liam Horn and Shaun Engelbrecht.

The latter executed a timely pushover score on the stroke of half-time, which combined with a brace of Calum Middleton conversions, put the tourists in the driving seat in a game in which the atmosphere was never less than high octane.

The Burlington backlash manifested itself big time after the interval. However, the defence was never less than resolute, and Man of the Match Harry Masini was the heartbeat of the tourists’ efforts in this domain following an impressively high tackle count.

In one particularly memorable moment, HM tracked back a full 60 metres to deny the Burlington winger just when the hosts had looked good bets to score.

Still, Burlington came back on the scoreboard with a converted try in the third quarter, and they could well have rescued matters with a last minute try, which had it been converted would have levelled matters.

However, the Burlington replacement kicker was off beam with his kick, as the visitors hung on for a famous win, ahead of a trip to the Niagara Falls, and the final game of the tour, in which they will be pitched against the Oshawa Vikings RFC on Thursday, July 28.