Enfield Ignatians were back on the menu as regards staging half of the Herts-Middlesex Merit Table finals this year, and the club can reflect on a job well done on an afternoon when Hertfordshire clubs ruled the roost by providing five of the seven winners at Donkey Lane (April 27th).

The two exceptions were one of the borough's clubs, Southgate, who are to be congratulated in beating Amersham 15-6 in what seemed an almost interminable Merit Table Six cup final, and Harrow IIs who thrashed Old Albanians Vs 54-9 in the Merit Table Five Plate final.

Otherwise it was honours even in the first round of four cup finals as Hertfordshire roared back following Cuffley's unexpected 27-13 success over Hackney IIs in the Merit Table Three plate final, and Harpenden Vs 30-10 demolition of Welwyn Vs in the Merit Table Seven plate final.

The Cuffley game was particularly entertaining. Hackney, too, played their part but struggled to match their opponents' superior forward power. The Cuffley fly-half also pulled the strings shrewdly and that also gave his side an important edge.

Seven finals in an afternoon clearly demands much organisation and a staggered, if slightly delayed, presentation ceremony followed, so as to avoid congestion in the changing rooms and to ensure the smooth running of the event.

Hertfordshire cleaned up in the three remaining finals and Tring had a particularly fine afternoon. Their twos and threes cleaned up 39-17 and 24-10 respectively at the main expense of Old Albanians IIIs (Merit Table One plate final) and Bishop's Stortford (Merit Table Two cup final).

There was no stopping Letchworth IIIs either and, like the proverbial runaway train, they had the bit firmly between the teeth throughout and outclassed UCS Old Boys 69-8 in the Merit Table Four cup final.

Club president Martin Baker said: "It was another great day for the club and I would like to thank all those who contributed to the smooth running of the event. We've had to cater for 14 different teams and their supporters and I'm very satisfied with the outcome."

Enfield Ignatians last hosted the event in 2008.