SECONDS DOMINATE LOCAL DERBY AGAINST SOUTHGATE

The Enfield Ignatians' second team made light of the muddy conditions to score a decisive 40-14 win against Southgate in the away Merit Table clash on Saturday October 28).

The visitors ran in six tries in the local Derby via Euan Renny, Nathaniel Clarke, Tom MacDougall, Frank Antwi, Louie Sellick and Wes Warren, five of which were converted by Sam Barnes.

Key to Ignatians’ success was a fast start as, very soon half after kick-off, slick-handling from the likes of Ben Roper and Frank Antwi set up Euan Renny, with the visitors also discomforting Southgate by adding two further tries in quick succession.

Although in the driving seat, first-half knocks to Euan Renny and the experienced Phil Tucker, forced them off the field, with the visitors’ deferring to the subs’ bench, as Wes Warren moved across from the backrow to cover at centre. They also lost Tom MacDougall in the second period.

Both sides proved error prone in the conditions as mistakes on both sides abounded but, for the main, Ignatians continued in the ascendancy, although they were under the cosh for a 15-minute spell in the second-half when Southgate’s big ball carriers threatened to cause carnage.

The pounding of the rock by the hosts did yield a couple of converted tries but it was Ignatians which had the final say after Wes Warren went over.

Spokesman and Ignatians’ prop Ken Carroll said: “We were smartly out of the traps and scored our first three tries in the opening 15 minutes. Both sides made mistakes and, although under the cosh in the second period, we defended, for the main, quite well.

“It was great that some of our club stalwarts were able to answer the call, and we also welcomed some new faces, including a parent from the junior section.”

The Enfield Ignatians’ first team are back in league action as they entertain Datchworth in the Counties One Herts-Middlesex clash at Donkey Lane on Saturday (November 4).