COUNTIES ONE HERTS-MIDDLESEX : JANUARY 28

ENFIELD IGNATIANS 8 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD 33

ENFIELD IGNATIANS, showing commendable spirit and grit, were far from disgraced against high-riding Hemel Hempstead, although the blue and golds were ultimately on the wrong side of the ledger following the 33-8 loss at Donkey Lane.

The visitors, having moved into second as a result of this win, roared their way into a 26-3 half-time lead and, although Ignatians matched strides with Hemel for a large part of the half, all they had to show for their efforts was a solitary Paul Duke penalty.

Hemel Hempstead, a side which exudes physicality, also sought to stretch Ignatians at every opportunity on a chewed up surface, but otherwise they feasted on the momentum gained from lineouts to fashion three of their first-half tries.

Despite this, Ignatians had their moments. With the penalty count largely in their favour, and Hemel having had a player sin-binned [repeat team infringement following a deliberate knock-on], the blue and golds got in a number of promising positions only for the chances to go begging.

At times, the ball wasn’t won cleanly at the lineout, as Ignatians were driven further behind the gain line, and they were also simply too predictable and ponderous, which made Hemel’s defensive task that much easier.

That the Ignatians pack was never totally overwhelmed by the heavier Hemel unit was down to a cussed attitude from the tight eight, when under the cosh, and the front row efforts of Fadee Fayaz, Ken Carroll and Matt Georgiou, deserved plenty of credit. As this enabled MOM Frank Antwi (PICTURED) to break and carry ‘hard’ from the base.

Having rung the changes at the interval, Ignatians had to weather a further storm in the form of a further Hemel try on the 45th minute, but they were as tight as drums after that as they bravely kept their line in-tact for the rest of the game.

Both sides incurred the displeasure of the referee, with Hemel having a second player sin-binned, and Ignatians having a player red carded for a no arms high tackle by the referee very late on in the game.

Still, Ignatians continued to build momentum as an attacking force, and in true rugby spirit, they refused to down tools by ratcheting up the pressure, as exemplified by some dangerous darts from New Zealander Johnny Dixon.

The centre partnership of Rob Quinlan and Carl Asare Anderson instigated some dangerous attacks, and the introduction of finishers, Femi
Adeosun and Glory Makabukdi, also successfully rattled the Hemel cage,

They were eventually rewarded for a pleasing moment of fluency from the backline, which included a neat cut out pass, and it resulted in pacey right winger Glory Makabukidi tucking away his opportunity with relish. Incidentally, Glory Makabukidi is a graduate of the youth section where he used to score tries for fun, and his is a welcome addition to the
squad.

Head coach Jack Wilson said: “Hemel Hempstead are a good side, and it’s a shame that it takes something to happen in a game before we click into gear and make something happen of our own.

“We had good go forward in the game but we need to be more clinical. Somehow, we endeavoured to freeze when in the red zone and our
attacks were too narrow. However, we kept going.”

Ignatians continue to occupy 11th place in the league table ahead of the rearrange visit of Old Streetonians to Donkey Lane on February 4.

Squad: Tom Buckland, Anzl Swartz, Carl Asare-Anderson, Rob Quinlan, Mapheon Dube (Glory Makabukidi), Johnny Dixon, Paul Duke (Femi Adeosun), Matt Georgiou, Farhad Fayaz, Ken Carroll (Stuart Blemings), Nathaniel Clarke, Jake Baker, Jack Wilson (Stuart Blemings) (Jack Wilson) Euan Renny, Frank Antwi.
Try: Glory Makabukidi. Pen: Paul Duke.
MOM: Frank Antwi.