ENFIELD IGNATIANS will have felt hugely deflated after the disappointing 31-22 loss to Finsbury Park in Round Four of the Middlesex Shield, although the promising form shown by the in-coming Senior Academy contingent, Emmanuel Okafor, William Halstead and Luke Roper, will undoubtedly have lightened the mood, writes Jonathan Landi.

Remarkably, all three got on the scoresheet – something of a rarity – whereas Luke Roper, the son of former first team scrum-half Andy Roper, further underlined his family’s fine rugby-playing tradition by getting better as the game wore on, and ultimately snaring the Mary Madden’s Man of the Match award.

At sixes and sevens in the first-half, a static Ignatians failed to deal with the constant wave of
Finsbury Park attacks, and it was paid for in full on the scoreboard in the form of a 17-0 opening quarter deficit after leaking three tries.

Not so much a poor opening gambit but a car crash, as a combination of missed tackles, wayward passing and a poor exit strategy repeatedly pinned them back. Although some concession must be made to a much-changed line-up, with a new half-back combination in tow. In many ways the case for the introduction of a development side has never been more compelling.

The input of the youngsters, though, provided one of the few bright spots, with left winger, Emmanuel Okafor, crashing over under the sticks after latching on to a neat break by another young blade, William Halstead, who must have been surprised to have found no one at home prior to his dash for the line.

It marked the former’s second try at senior level, having opened his account against Actonians, also at Donkey Lane, a week earlier.

Staring at a 24-5 half-time deficit, Ignatians belatedly engineered some badly needed attacking momentum in the second-half, and some neat build-up play saw winger, Frazer Briers, who had a fine game, scamper clear.

Some neat approach work which began deep in the Ignatians’ half with Liam Horn, and, above all, veteran Wes Warren, prominent, helped free space on the right flank, with the ball moved through a few more phases, before Briers hooked up again with his team-mates - teasing the opposition with some nifty footwork en route to the line.

Close range scores by Senior Academy debutants, Halstead and Luke Roper, either side of Finsbury Park’s fifth try (following a succession of 5m scrums), and the product of some good support play close to the line, kept the deficit manageable, but they could make no further in-roads after that.

Crucially, Ignatians’ failure to pot two conversions from in front of the sticks, one of which was charged down, would have gifted them two rather than a single bonus point, could yet prove vital in a tight league.

As things stand, Ignatians (10 points) currently trail Finsbury Park (15) and Actonians (14). They will need to win their two remaining games against Actonians and Old Millhillians, but ultimately they could be dependent on results elsewhere.

Head coach Gary Phillips said: “We showed great spirit to fight back in the second-half, but our decision making hindered us.”

Ignatians are next in action on April 11 when they are away to Actonians.

The EIRFC Academy were in action on Friday evening when they lost the local derby against Saracens, played under lights at Donkey Lane, 38-12. Luke R and Isiah both crossed for Ignatians, with Ryan landing a conversion.

A FULL REPORT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP MATCH REPORTS' SECTION.

Photo: three names to conjure with for the future (left to right): Emmanuel Okafor, William Halstead and Luke Roper.