The excellent team dynamic which is prevalent in the Senior Academy team again shone through brightly, as they warmed up for their first league game with a confident 27-17 win over visiting Staines, writes Jonathan Landi.

The half-term break normally spells availability problems but despite this the Academy team managed to assemble a strong squad, and their rapier thrusts in the first-half ultimately did most of the damage in the form of a priceless 22-0 lead.

In a game in which the scrums went uncontested (which undoubtedly helped Ignatians) the hosts successfully weathered an early Staines’ barrage before they circled the line and, two passes later, Ben M backed himself and stepped the last defender for the initial try.

The quality of the Ignatians’ kick-chase was also evident as they isolated Staines close to their own line, and having hounded the defender into making a mistake, the mobile Josh C initiated his brace by seizing upon a wayward pass before dotting down.

Playing down the slope, Ignatians continued to press home their advantage, and they again struck gold after a Staines goal-line drop out went straight down the throat of fly-half Tommy G.

The half-back’s arcing probe where the cover was sparsest ultimately enabled him to outflank an ever-thinning defence, before he finished off a fine solo effort with aplomb as Ignatians continued to exercise a fierce grip on proceedings.

There was no let up and Storm Ignatians continued to wreak havoc in the form of some taxing carries by the forwards (Cassius amongst others prominent) which took play near to the Staines’ line before scrum-half Luke Roper took aim and sniped his way over.

The fourth Ignatians’ try also came gift-wrapped with a successful Ben M conversion,

However, Staines, with the gradient in their favour in the second-half, came back strongly as the physical visitors unleashed their big ball carriers to deadly effect, having twice crashed over the line to trim the deficit to ten points.

Crucially, Ignatians, having rung the changes at half-time, still managed to inflict damage from off more limited possession after successfully pilfering Staines’ ball in the opposition 22 before working in Josh C for his second try.

Staines did cross for a third try but that was the closest that they got, and with Ignatians defending like dervishes close to their own line, they managed to eventually lift the siege by forcing the visitors into making mistakes for a richly deserved win.

Celestine, playing on the right wing, was the Man of the Match. His intelligent, probing in-field runs gave Staines multiple headaches, and his positioning was such that he was also able to effectively link up with his forwards when he went to ground.

However, in truth the team, to a man, all had fine games as the squad spirit came through strongly.

Congratulations to Josh C and Jake as both are through to the next round of U17s Middlesex County trials, whereas Emmanuel O is in a similar position as regards the Middlesex U18s set-up. Well done to all and sundry.

Head coach Andy Roper said: “The first-half went really and we managed to do most of the things we had been practicing in training. We rather took our foot of the gas in the second-half and this added to individual errors let Staines back in [the game], but overall I’m pleased.”

The league opener - a tough away clash against Aylesbury – now awaits on November 16. In the interim they can bask in a little reflected glory and, as one observer said: “They’re a good watch”.