ENFIELD IGNATIANS paid the price for a poor start but they did at least pick up a point for their endeavours following the 73-27 home defeat to Old Millhillians in the Counties Two Middlesex clash at Donkey Lane.

The ability to at least rescue something from the game did at least enable Ignatians to leapfrog Kilburn Cosmos at the foot of the table, in advance of the away derby clash against Saracens Amateurs (a Friday night game) on October 23.

Most of the damage from the hosts’ perspective was done in the first-half, as after an even first ten minutes, tries were conceded with almost alarming regularity as Old Millhillians expanded squad filled its boots.

Frustratingly, the pattern followed an almost familiar route, as Ignatians all too readily kicked the ball down the opposition throats, and consequently their opponents lapped up the gifts that came their way by running the ball back with interest and scoring.

Not that Ignatians’ cause was necessarily helped by having to rearrange their half-back combination, with scrum-half, Dam Shaw, forced off injured in the opening quarter after taking a hefty knock.

Ignatians also engineered a try towards the end of the half and, after a good spell of pressure, they created the platform for Academy graduate, Dalton Tshimbe, to rumble over for his second senior try.

After finding themselves 59-5 in arrears at half-time, Ignatians clearly had a mountain to climb, but clearly what was said at half-time had a galvanising effect as they looked a much-improved outfit.

Consequently, their productivity rates soared with the forwards’ union, Sam Rushmer, Liam Horn and William Halstead all crossing the whitewash, before Carl-Asare Anderson, having replaced the injured Shaw at scrum-half, claimed the hosts’ fifth try. The latter also fired over one conversion.