Enfield Ignatians find themselves at the top of the Counties Two Middlesex hit parade after shading a very spirited Kilburn Cosmos outfit 34-29 in a tense league encounter at Donkey Lane.

In a disjointed, error-strewn performance the hosts only secured victory in the final minute when the Mary Madden’s Man of the Match, Sam Rushmer, completed his hat-trick by scoring the all-important, victory-clinching try.

In a score which was symptomatic of the hosts’ fluctuating fortunes, Ignatians, having been pegged back to 29-29 on the 78th minute after Kilburn Cosmos claimed a breakaway try, found themselves defending for their lives inside the red zone.

Crucially, they were able to lift the siege after the visitors were penalised for holding-on, and after gaining good ground from the relieving kick, their decision to go for broke rather than settle for a draw was to pay handsome dividends.

As they won a second penalty and, from the ensuing attacking maul, Ignatians again rumbled the ball through the phases before the game’s defining presence, Sam Rushmer, broke the stalemate and Kilburn Cosmos' hearts with it.

However, Ignatians had set themselves an unfortunate precedent early doors, having been caught napping in their own 22, and they paid the price after gifting the visitors a cheap seventh-minute interception try.

This prompted a robust response from Ignatians and, they twice came up smelling of roses from attacking lineouts, as the fired-up backrow boys, Sam Rushmer and Frank Antwi, both muscled their way over.

However, disruptive Kilburn Cosmos continued to make life difficult for Ignatians, and a charged down kick, combined with some poor tackling from the home side, inevitably led to the visitors securing a second converted try.

Despite the setback, Ignatians continued to keep the scoreboard ticking and a neat break by lively centre Frazer Briers neatly set up his forwards, with prop, Finlay MacKay, capitalising by barrelling his way over in the corner from the maul.

Kilburn Cosmos responded with a successful monster strike from a long-range penalty, but the final say of the half belonged to Ignatians, as the hosts opted to run a penalty close to the visitors’ line, with Sam Rushmer sealing the bonus point fourth try from the tap and go.

However, Ignatians’ 22-17 half-time lead was invariably a precarious one in the context of the game, and their tenuous grip on proceedings was again laid bare, having again reverted to sloppy mode by gifting Kilburn Cosmos a second interception try.

It was also a game which called for big personalities and Ignatians’ impact prop, Matt Pollard, wasn’t found wanting in that area, as he revelled in his role of impact sub, having proved the chief beneficiary of another telling Frazer Briers break, as he dummied and pirouetted his way over.

However, the front rower also picked up a rib injury for his troubles, and he played no further part in proceedings after being forced off.

Kilburn Cosmos drew level on the 78th minute but Ignatians steeled themselves for one last successful charge, and their enterprise was rewarded although coach Gary Phillips, like the rest of us, will probably have had a few blood pressure issues in a see-saw encounter, as the home support breathed a huge collective sigh of relief at the final whistle. Certainly, the old agage that there are no easy league games has never rung more true.

Fly-half Paul Duke said: “It was probably our worst performance of the season, but we stuck at it and managed to grind out a win. There’s clearly still a bit of work to do on the training paddock.”

Ignatians face another stiff test on Saturday when they entertain reusrgent Barnet, as the latter are in a good run of form following wins over Harrow and Hackney.

The EIRFC squad: Adam Morley, Alfie Fordham*, Frazer Briers*, Calum Middleton*, Paul Duke*, Dan Shaw, Finlay MacKay*, William Bruce*, Ken Carroll, Henry Sibley*, Sam Bucknall*, Frank Antwi, Liam Horn*, Sam Rushmer, Caolan Davey, Emmanuel Okafor, Matt Pollard (18).
Try scorers: Sam Rushmer (3), Frank Antwi, Finlay MacKay, Matt Pollard.
Conversions: Paul Duke (2),
Mary Madden’s MOM: Sam Rushmer.