ENFIELD IGNATIANS were back on song after a prior blip against Verulamians, and the hard-fought 29-24 away win against Barnet Elizabethans proved a double bonus, as it lifted the visitors two places up to sixth in the Counties Two Herts-Middlesex hit parade, writes Jonathan Landi.

In a tough and compelling encounter, Ignatians also netted all five points, and their structured, assured approach, in marked contrast to the Verulamians’ debacle a week earlier, laid the foundations of a 17-10 half-time lead despite playing up the slope.

As within minutes of Barnet taking the lead, they claimed the equalising try after right winger, Frazer Briers, scampered clear on the flank, having proved the chief beneficiary of some good build-up work, with Liam Horn among those prominent in this area. However, the winger not only blasted clear of his opposite number, but he also deftly stepped the last defender before dotting down under the sticks, which rendered the Paul Duke conversion attempt very much a formality.

The fly-half also nailed a penalty after the hosts strayed offside in front of the sticks, as Ignatians, sticking to structure and with the penalty count by and large in their favour at this juncture, had plenty of attacking momentum.

A subsequent and sublime 50-22 kick from the Lavender Hill Garage Man of the Match, Dan Shaw (pictured), was the prelude to an dynamic catch and drive from the lineout - and from which a very tonic Frank Antwi, who had another stormer, peeled off to his left and scored. Paul Duke again added the extras as the dominant hosts sailed 12-points clear.

Yet Barnet, prompted by their talented fly-half and always a threat with the ball in hand, continued to get good width on their game, and they breached the Ignatians’ line for a second time in the wide channels– serving a timely reminder that this was far from over, having moved to within seven points of the visitors' 17-10 lead.

Ignatians’ defensive resolve was sorely tested in the second-half, having lost two players to the sin-bin for multiple team infringements, and the pendulum looked to be swinging Barnet’s way who achieved parity again after a sustained period of pressure saw them go in under the sticks.

However, despite being reduced to 14, Ignatians went for broke and were rewarded in the form of a penalty try after No 8 Sam Rushmer, with the line at his mercy, was high-tackled into touch following a very fluid attack which opened up Barnet on the far left flank. The latter, one of his side’s prime ball carriers, also showed his adaptability by later bedding in at prop, having made way to accommodate the introduction of veteran No 8 Wes Warren, who certainly provided an attacking spark when he came on.

Despite some heroic Ignatians’ defence, Barnet’s pressure was unrelenting, and with the visitors again shorn of their full complement, and Ryan Loo went the way of Liam Horn, by suffering temporary banishment- there was a certain inevitability about the home side coming back to 24-24.

It set up a grandstand finale and, with Ignatians at last on the front foot, and rewarded with an attacking scrum on the Barnet 10-metre line, Dan Shaw’s audacious arcing run down the blindside enabled him to beat the final defender with minutes left, which lifted his side into the nirvana of victory.

As Ignatians, intent on protecting their lead, deftly stuck the ball up their jumper thereafter - denying Barnet possession, and thereby avenging the 17-5 defeat to the same opposition in November.

There were lots of positives to be taken away from the game, and not least the fact that Ignatians literally met the Barnet onslaught head-on. Upping their work rate, the squad, to a man, tackled their hearts out; with Ken Carroll, despite coming off the night shift, really putting himself about in this area, and Frazer Briers, adding to his attacking nous, by pulling off a stunning try-saving tackle in the corner.

Needless to say, captain Euan Renny put in another monumental shift, particularly in the lineout, as the side showed the benefits of the scrum session with Stuart Wilson at Donkey Lane. The improvements were tangible in this area and it's something that the club should give credence to doing more often.

Head coach Gary Phillips said: “It was win gained from the heart and the players can rightly feel proud of themselves. Barnet are a good side. However, we rolled up our sleeves and played our socks off.”

Ignatians are at home to Old Millhillians in the league on 22 March.

EIRFC squad: Carl Asare-Anderson*, Frazer Briers*, Wesley Chase, Ryan Loo*, Ben Villamor*, Paul Duke*, Daniel Shaw, Ken Carroll, Sam Hatchett, Matt Pollard, Henry Sibley*, Liam Horn*, Frank Antwi*, Euan Renny (cpt)*, Sam Rushmer, Ishan Tilakaratna, Wes Warren*, Lawrence Loo*.
Tries: Frazer Briers, Frank Antwi, Penalty try, Dan Shaw.
Conversions: Paul Duke (2), Penalty.
Penalty: Paul Duke.
The Lavender Hill Garage MOM: Dan Shaw
*: denotes home-grown talent,