Four members of the Enfield Ignatians’ girls’ rugby academy, the Enfield Tigers, represented the club with distinction after donning the blue and white of the Middlesex U18s County team which mastered Eastern Counties 31-7 in tough conditions at Ipswich RFC (December 7).

In fact, the Enfield club supplied three of the eight forwards in the Middlesex starting lineup, and namely front rowers Daisy Webb, Abi Afuwape, lock forward Eliza Sibley, plus fullback and second-half impact sub Emily Mann.

Rain fell throughout the game, but the more cohesive Middlesex settled the better of the two teams. Having opened the scoring early, they held the whip hand throughout.

Not that Eastern Counties didn't have their chances but resolute Middlesex defence kept them at bay until they breached the line for the only time on 70 minutes.

It proved the cue for the blue and whites to redouble their efforts, and they had the final say by claiming the final try of the game.

Both Abi and Eliza picked up knocks which forced them to eventually leave the field, but not without having shown their mettle, whereas Daisy and Emily similarly showed some nice touches.

Proud parent James Sibley, the father of Eliza Sibley, said: “The girls all put in a shift and did the club proud.”

Irish international Niamh Gallagher (pictured, far right) another Enfield Tigers’ graduate, made her mark in exalted grade, this time in the colours of Ealing Trailfinders, in the 29-28 away defeat to champions Gloucester-Hartpury in the Women’s Premiership.

The visitors had never beaten Gloucester-Hartpury but they certainly gave the hosts a few scares, with Niamh introduced into the fray on the 73rd minute, soon underlining her qualities as a finisher by crossing the whitewash two minutes later.

The subsequent successful conversion took Ealing-Trailfinders to within a point, and although they could make no further in-roads, the visitors did at least depart with two losing bonus points.

Two age groups of the Enfield Tigers were on the road with the U14s offering stoute resistance in the 17-7 loss to Welwyn, and the U16s doing likewise following the 24-5 reverse against Old Albanians.