The U18s have a busy schedule ahead of them and the first hit-out of the season, though far from perfect, should serve as a useful warm-up ahead of this weekend's opening league game away to Kilburn Cosmos.

In an even contest, in which defences were largely on top and errors abounded, Barnet certainly came up with the answers as how to unlock the defence; as a neat injection of pace on the right wing and up the middle fired the more fluid visitors into a 12-0 lead in the second period of the game. Ignatians, although a little more ponderous, certainly carried and harried well around the fringes. They also had a lot of presence in the lineout, with the excellent Lucas Yoxall in particularly fine form.

The blue and golds at last hauled themselves back into the contest following a series of probes close to the Barnet line, before the muscular Farhad Fayaz, a player tailor-made for the close quarter exchanges and growing in confidence with every game, deservedly forced his way over.Calum Middleton applied the extras and it was certainly game-on again before Barnet again crossed the whitewash which gave the visitors a ten point lead.

Ignatians knew that they had to respond and, after winning a succession of penalties, they again pressurised Barnet who were forced to defend for their lives close to their own line, before the dancing feet of Jacon Wackett, who jinxed right and left, opened-up Barnet.

Going to the final six minutes of a disjointed contest, Ignatians sensed a famous Derby victory. Very much in the ascendancy, they ran a penalty close to the Barnet line and the enterprise was rewarded when the omni-present and Yoxall finished off the close range effort.Ethan Robinson applied the extras and it was all a question now of whether Ignatians, defending a slender two point lead, could close the game out? Sadly, they didn't quite make it as they coughed up a kickable penalty, which was executed by Barnet, as the visitors regained the whip hand.

Still, going to the final minute of a see-saw contest, Ignatians still had the chance to wrap up the spoils following a searing break from Frazer Briers. However, an excellent Barnet cover tackle halted the move dead in its tracks as the visitors hung-on.

Coach Jack Wilson (Pictured) said: "I thought we were a little lethargic at times and need to play more as a team rather than a collection of indivuduals. There were, though, lots of positives and our pod work was good. We also made good yardage when we moved the ball wide."