The first President’s Lunch of the new season proved a emotionally-charged affair as we mourned the passing of two popular club members, Graeme ‘Lofty’ McPhun and Michael ‘Byrds’ Lovett, by fielding an EIRFC President’s XV against Cuffley.

In time-honoured fashion, the teams observed a minute’s silence prior to kick-off, with the President’s XV, which blended a Senior Academy octet with former senior players, who for the main were lured out of retirement for the occasion.

However, it was fast-starting Cuffley which were on top in the early exchanges as the visitors’ greater cohesion yielded two tries – one under the sticks and in the corner – as the ‘red men’ of Hertfordshire forged a 14-0 lead.

Slow burners in this game, the President’s men steadily worked their way back into contention before half-time when senior debutant, Luke Roper, the son of former first team scrum-half Andy, sniped his way over to trim the deficit to seven points.

The second-half also yielded a memorable contribution other members of the Senior Academy contingent with James Villamor returning any kicks which came his way with interest; and Liam Kadira, Kaya Yilmaz, Man of the Match Isaiah Meme, King-Shiloh Small and William Halstead, Emmanuel Okafor all making telling contributions as Ignatians continued to rattle Cuffley’s cage.

Some effective jackling and rucking, saw Ignatians become increasingly more effective at the breakdown, and a positive return resulted in King-Shiloh Small celebrating his call to senior ranks by crossing the whitewash, as the hosts moved to within two points at 14-12 down, taking into account that Louie Sellick also added a conversion.

This prompted a response from Cuffley and the visitors’ ability to engineer a third try, also converted, gave them some invaluable breathing space in the form of a nine-point lead.

Not that the President’s men were ever going to go quietly as they continued to chase the game, and they were again on the money, with the eagle-eyed Luke Roper quick to capitalise on a Cuffley mistake by darting over for his brace.

It again opened the game up again and, with the President’s XV sensing that victory was within their grasp, and a long kick floated downfield dropped invitingly into the in-goal area, as the home side gave valiant chase in the hope of an opportunistic score.

However, the bounce of the ball eluded the ‘chasers’ and any chance that the President’s XV had of snatching victory evaporated in an instant, but they had come mighty close and can be mighty proud of their Herculean effort.

For the record the senior contingent comprised: Tom Moore, Phil Tucker, Wes Warren, Tan M’bonu, Paul Winship, Richard Laurence, Keir Bonnar, Andy Roper, Stuart Blemings, Stephen 'Moose' Renny, Sean Bucknall, Johnny Dixon, Louie Sellick and Mateusz Platt.