One from the heart. The first team honoured the memory of the late Lucas Yoxall in the best possible fashion by scoring a very gutsy 24-17 win over Actonians at Donkey Lane on Saturday 24 January, writes Jonathan Landi.

Beaten 38-7 by Actonians in late November, a far more fit for purpose Ignatians made it three wins from as many 2026 games, and they have now bagged 14 points from a maximum possible 15 since the start of the New Year.

Not that the initial portents were good. Having snared an early 3-0 lead after Ryan Loo potted penalty from in front of the posts after Actonians strayed offside, they subsequently found themselves staring at a 14-3 deficit after leaking two tries.

Ignatians were culpable in both cases and, despite some tigerish defence close to their own line, some ill-discipline from the hosts gifted Actonians a prime attacking position from which they opened the scoring.

The hosts were also punished a second time. Although the irony won’t be lost on them, as it initially came on the back of a monster 50-22 kick from the boot of the Mary Madden’s Man of the Match, Calum Middleton, who fired his side into some good positions.

Again, it all ended in tears, as an overcooked long throw to the tail was fielded by the Actonians backline, and slick, speedy ball transference to the right wing enabled them to leave an ever-thinning defensive cover clutching at straws.

To their credit, Ignatians regrouped strongly and, with Jack O’Toole a handful around the fringes, and an increasingly assertive pack gaining good traction via some forceful carries, they generated some good momentum of their own to lead 17-14 at the break.

Having sighted the line, with Henry Sibley going very close to scoring, they continued to exercise meaningful pressure in and around the Actonians 22, before Jack O’Toole took matters into his own hands, as his snipe and dummy from the base enabled him to rifle clean through.

Things also improved on the stroke of half-time when, Ignatians, having won a penalty just outside the Actonians 22, drilled the ball to the corner and they successfully rumbled the ball through multiple phases, with the backs also getting in on the action, before prop Sam Bucknall barrelled his way over.

Ryan Loo converted both tries and the utility back was also in the thick of it early in the second-half when fullback, Adam Moorley’s one-handed backflip pass found the supporting winger, Alfie Fordham, who made very good yardage on the left wing.

As it enabled Ignatians to take play into the Actonians’ 22, and although the visitors initially did well to regain possession, they rather shot themselves in the foot by popping up a pass to the lurking Ryan Loo, rather than to their own team-mate, with the latter applying the after-burners to score.

Loo, who converted all of his side’s tries, didn’t miss a shot at goal all afternoon, as he was flawless from the tee, having landed all four kicks.

Ignatians were on the up but they were far from home and hosed, and they had to negotiate a few minefields of their own at a time when they were playing into a strong wind, with injuries to Cairo Sango (leg injury) and Frank Antwi (dislocated fingers) also hindering the ebb and flow.

It cried out for some astute game management but, instead, Ignatians found themselves defending for their lives in the red zone, and ultimately it was their never say die defensive mindset which won them the game.

Defending robustly close to their own line, they also managed to negate the threat of a 5m Actonians scrum via their aggressive defensive press, with lineout Titan, Euan Renny, also making a couple of crucial steals on the Actonians’ throw.

Rondel Bernard also made a crucial tackle in the corner which prevented an Actonians try, with fly-half, Calum Middleton, true to his forward roots, latching himself over the ball in exemplary fashion to win his side a crucial penalty. There were some good carries, too, from Nathaniel Clarke.

The upshot was that Actonians, having missed a very kickable penalty in the first-half, gained their only second-half points via a solitary and well-taken strike at goal, as Ignatians tapped into the emotion of the whole occasion, and the welcome presence of the Yoxall family and friends.

Perhaps the loudest cheer was reserved for Frank Antwi. Having been in the wars all afternoon, he still found the energy to unleash a thunderbolt of a tackle which mopped up man and a ball, which spoke volumes for Ignatians’ full-on approach.

Head coach Gary Phillips said: “We won the game through our attitude, application and never-say-die [attitude”, whereas captain Euan Renny lauded his troops by adding: “We [the team] can rightly feel proud of ourselves”.

Ignatians are taking nothing for granted and are now bracing themselves for the tough away challenge of Barnet Elizabethans at Byng Road on Saturday.

Team (all used) Adam Moorley, Alfie Fordham*, Curtis Young, Ryan Loo*, Cairo Sango*, Calum Middleton*, Jack O’Toole*, Sam Rushmer, Will Bruce*, Sam Bucknall*, Henry Sibley*, Liam Horn* (Cpt), Frazer Briers*, Chris Langan*, Frank Antwi, Euan Renny (VC)*, Rondel Bernard, Nathaniel Clarke*, (18). *= home grown talent.
Tries: Jack O’Toole, Sam Bucknall, Ryan Loo.
Conversions: 3/3: Ryan Loo
Penalty: (1/1): Ryan Loo
Mary Madden’s Man of the Match: Calum Middleton.