EIRFC can be immensely proud that three boys from the Academy section represented Middlesex last month. At one point all three were on the pitch playing, wearing the famous blue and white hoops, representing the county and Ignatians!

Harry Newbery, Louie Manzi and Henry Sibley, following numerous trials during the U17 selection process, made the final cut and played three games in May.

Middlesex’s first game was away to Sussex. Harry and Louie were picked to travel down to East Grinstead playing in the flanker and wing roles. The traditionally strong Sussex side started the game in a dominating fashion scoring first, before a try from the Middlesex ‘15’ bounced them back. Middlesex’s dogged defence only fell once more to go into the half 12-5 down.
The second half inclusion of Harry inspired him, as his line break, driving for the line and set-up saw the score level at 12-12 with the final quarter to go. Heads-up Middlesex attacked the Sussex line again and again with strong forwards play but to no avail as they slipped another try before a last-minute score, against play: crushingly giving the win to Sussex 22-12. The boys both fought heroically, impressing the coaches to gain a call up to the starting 15 in the next game versus Hampshire, at Grasshoppers.

This Middlesex side were being talked about as being a smaller and slower side than previous ones. Hampshire duly arrived to play on the fast AGP pitch expecting a win. The onlookers and pundits witnessed a rapidly improving and bonding Middlesex side showing new moves and plays aplenty: resulting in quick tries in the first half.
Hampshire were stunned and started the second half expecting retribution. This was not to be as Henry Sibley was now on the pitch and took down most of the forwards in a smashing set piece charge to set up the ball for yet another try. This resulted in cheers and gasps from the crowd and a few tears from a certain proud father!!
Louie Manzi was causing havoc from the wing with Hampshire players being knocked backwards at will. His deadly cutting infield runs capitalised with a defender scattering 50-yard solo run try. If it wasn’t for the referee issuing him a yellow card in the first half (too rough apparently!) he would have added more to the score which ended with a 48-22 win for the undersized Middlesex side.
Harry was asked to start at 4 which obviously was the correct choice as he saw out the full 70 mins making some hard yards, massive turnovers and a solid defensive tackling display, again impressing the coaches to be asked down to Devon for their hardest game in this May's triple fixtures.

The following week all three travelled to the furthest pitch in Devon (IvyBridge) for a Bank Holiday weekend game. The six hour journey for some would have proved a step too far to play against a side that were the red-hot favourites on a scorching, sunny day near the coast. A strong breeze added to conditions and again a fast AGT pitch could have resulted in Devon piling on the score like their two previous 60-point games!
However, this was not how the south east England side allowed them to perform. Within ten minutes, Devon knew they were in a fight at the breakdowns and with a Middlesex line speed quickening and a side-stepping centre pairing they were two tries down within ten minutes. Devon bounced back with a try but Middlesex muscled into them to go into the half 5-21 up. Harry and Louie, picked as finishers, featured in the first half due to bruising injuries forcing rotations, with Louie now in his preferred position of Centre.
At half time the coaches warned the players of what happened last year: going up 20 points at half-time, before Devon regrouped and came out to take the honours at the end. Sure enough this is what started to happened. However, Henry put in a massive defending performance in the 3rd quarter to slow the pounding onslaught of Devon. For most of the second half it felt like Devon were camped on Middlesex’s 5m line. Time and again the bump/bounce defence held only falling twice, including a few held-ups. Middlesex went into the last quarter 19-21 up. Head coach then made a big call with a mass change which included the return of Harry and Louie giving instructions to “bring it home” and cause a shock win against a very strong, high academy represented side. Momentum continued to stay with Devon keeping it to within 2 points and 10 to go, before a Middlesex drive to the corner and a shift out wide saw enough of a buffer for the end result to favour the away side 26-28.

An exhausted congratulations followed, then a tie exchanged presentation in the club house saw the Devon Chairman stating it was the “best county game of rugby he had seen in a very long time and a true showcase for county rugby”.

This is a credit to the three boys from EIRFC who have proudly promoted the “#club that cares” from North London. All three will have a life time of memories, pictures and stories to tell and shows that the club/ DPP system can help the less traditional clubs’ pathway into county rugby. And who knows, maybe the U18 and beyond seasons will be even better.