ENFIELD IGNATIANS delivered arguably their finest performance of the season after sharing the spoils with second-placed Wasps at Donkey Lane. Beaten only once this season, Wasps came mighty close to surrendering their near flawless away record, with Ignatians 27-22 ahead going to the final minute of a pulsating encounter.

However, the game still had one final cruel twist and, with Ignatians deemed to have carried the ball over their own dead-ball line, they fatally found themselves defending a 5-metre scrum from which Wasps claimed the equalising try.

Wasps still had a last gasp chance to win the game but, with Ignatians mounting an impressive cavalry charge from their own line in their efforts to charge the kick down, the ball mercifully sailed wide of the uprights.

Yet defeat would have been rough justice on Ignatians and, energised from one to 18, they set out their stall with an early try, scored by Tom MacDougall, having stretched the visitors to breaking point, through multiple phases after the blue and golds opted to run a close-range penalty.

Wasps subsequently cashed in on Ignatians’ numerical inferiority in the wake of the sin-binning [multiple team penalties] of an otherwise very tonic Wes Chase as they circled the defence, and they also capitalised on a missed tackle out wide to claim their second try and lead 14-5.

However, Ignatians rallied strongly and, playing with their heads as well as their hearts, they successfully isolated the Wasps’ last line of defence, before some cute interplay from in the back division in tight quarters enabled centre Ryan Loo to blast over, with Paul Duke adding the extras.

Key here was the ability to keep the defence guessing by continually drawing in the man before releasing the pass, with Alfie Fordham, Wes Chase and Tom MacDougall among those prominent in the build-up.

Ignatians botched two further gilt-edged try scoring chances, again after some exemplary approach work, but they eventually ended the half on a high after Duke fired his side into a 15-14 lead after rifling over a well taken penalty.

A strong start to the second-half ushered in Ignatians’ third try with great work from an attacking lineout on the Wasps’ 22, allied to some very slick handling from the back line, providing the platform for Ryan Loo to wing in for his brace.

Although, occasionally, Ignatians went off script and, with Wasps stubbornly refusing to throw in the towel, the game opened up again after the visitors rebounded to score their third try to move within a point.

Again, the response was a very positive as Ignatians, having again reverted to attack mode, got themselves in another great position after winning a 5m attacking scrum, although they didn’t quite have the required traction from the set-piece to force the pushover try.

However, they still managed to strike gold after the ball squirted out from the ensuing ruck, with some mazy footwork from captain Euan Renny exposing a hole in the Wasps’ defence as the fired-up backrower deftly played in the supporting Mary Madden’s Man of the Match Nathaniel Clarke who excelled in his role as impact sub.

However, the game hadn’t quite played out and a late Wasps’ rally, which included a successful penalty strike, ensured that it was honours even with each team amply rewarded in the form of three points apiece as the match reached a dramatic conclusion.

There was a very positive reaction to the team’s efforts with many of you commenting on how much you enjoyed the game, and the challenge in the weeks ahead will be to build on this positive template as the team endeavours to end the season a high.

Everyone had a good game but a special mention to the backrow of Frank Antwi, Euan Renny and Sam Rushmer, as this unit worked tirelessly to put their side on the front foot, whereas Ryan Loo, Jack O’Toole and Tom MacDougall all provided attacking flair in the backs.

Ignatians’ improved ruck speed and the ability to generate cleaner ball was also a big help to scrum-half, Dan Shaw, as his slick distribution provided an ample supply of ball for the backs to feast on.

Captain Euan Renny said: “It was definitely one of our best performances of the season against a side which is second in the league. We played the way we wanted to with a lot of belief. Overall, it was a brilliant performance and it’s a shame that it ended in a draw.”
Ignatians are away to UCS Rugby in their rearranged league encounter on Saturday February 22.

EIRFC squad (all used): Tom MacDougall, Alfie Fordham*, Wesley Chase, Ryan Loo*, Jack O’Toole*, Paul Duke*, Daniel Shaw, Jake Baker*, Sam Hatchett, Tom Rushmer, Liam Horn*, Calum Middleton *, Frank Antwi*, Euan Renny (cpt)*, Sam Rushmer, Carl Asare-Anderson*, Ken Carroll, Nathaniel Clarke*.
*=Home grown talent
Tries: Tom MacDougall, Ryan Loo (two), Nathaniel Clarke.
Penalty (1): Paul Duke
Conversions (2): Paul Duke
Mary Madden’s MOM: Nathaniel Clarke.