LEWIS WHITE BRACE IS MATCHED AS OPPOSITION BLUSHES ARE EVENTUALLY SPARED

HERTS-MIDDLESEX MERIT TABLE FOUR NORTH-EAST

LEWIS WHITE BRACE IS EQUALLED AS OPPOSITION BLUSHES ARE EVENTUALLY SPARED

ENFIELD IGNATIANS IIIs 12 FINSBURY PARK IIs 12
It was honours even at Donkey Lane. However, the game was as much noted for its pre-match shenanigans which caused the game to finish ten minutes early because of the fading light. It’s something we readily associate with cricket and not autumn rugby.

The enthusiasm of Finsbury Park was admirable as they turned up with excess baggage in the form of 22 players compared to the home side’s 18. So, in the interests of fairness, not everyone got a game, but at least this particular negotiation had gone smoothly as the whips rested easy.

To compound matters the Finsbury Park baggage handlers who clearly don’t work for BA forgot to pack their kit bags. This meant a distress SOS call to their Downhills Park headquarters as more time was lost. Meanwhile, the clock was still ticking and, with both sides in a state of battle readiness, but with one team still in civvies, the game invariably started later than its assigned 2.30pm start time.

The short-haul trip up the A10 was clearly causing the Finsbury Park baggage handlers all manners of headaches as they also declined to equip the gallant 22 with enough front resources which meant that the game went uncontested from the off.

The contrast between the two sides, once the game got underway after much huff and puff, couldn’t have been greater as it pitted Ignatians big forwards against a very fleet-footed set of backs. Conscious of this, Ignatians, weary of not over-committing to the contact area, wisely held back defensively and it was the Goliath figure of Lewis White (SEE PICTURE) who claimed both his side’s tries.

A constant thorn in the side of the opposition, his second try was something of a competition with two other team-mates for the touchdown after a Sean Bucknall charge down. Lewis won this particular foot-race. Hard luck the other two who missed out, but no one will begrudge a player than can give his side a 10-0 lead, and particularly one prepared to ply his trade at all levels of the club?

There’s no arguing with that and another upshot was the successful Sam Barnes conversion which gifted Ignatians a 12-0 lead. Invariably, Finsbury Park came more into it and, despite Ignatians’ best defensive efforts, and their tried and tested pillar and guards’ system, the visitors rescued the situation with a brace of tries of their own which levelled matters.

Ignatians were on the offensive as the referee blew time early as we were all left to rage in the dying of the light at the frustration of it all. The return should certainly prove very interesting. And Enfield please don’t forget your KIT!