THREES ARE BACK ON SONG

The frustrations of the two previous games were expunged in one fell swoop after the threes overcame the stubborn resistance of Old Grammarians in a typically bruising local Derby played out in the wind and the wet at World's End Lane.

Such conditions are, of course, meat and drink to the threes' cussed pack. Although Old Grammarians
certainly had their cards to play, and notably in the form of their dangerous centre, and the home side certainly gave the visitors a few flutters by scoring first.

In a forward-orientated game, slow-starting Ignatians started to click with some bullocking trademark forward drives which sapped the strength of the opposition, and early nerves were certainly lifted after Caolan Davey forced his way over.

Captain Steve Renny believes that the score was a huge morale booster: "The try gave everyone a huge lift and enabled us to kick-on in the game."

Both sides were to add a try each before the half ended and Ignatians' five pointer was finished off by the combative Adonis Kleanthous.

A successful second James Barber conversion ensured that the visitors reached the sanctity of half-time with a narrow 14-10 lead after Old Gramms added a second try.

Sticking to an effective script in the second period, Ignatians continued to rumble the ball up via their
forwards and, in one instance, they made prodigious yardage by gaining a full 30 metres.

Granted this platform, the points were always going to come. Caolan Davey powered over for his second, and although Old Grams collected a third try, a successful Barber penalty and conversion either side of a try from Steven Florez opened up a 12 point gap.

To their credit, Old Gramms continued to come knocking. Ignatians were certainly under the cosh in the last 15 minutes when repeat team offences led to the sin-binning of Kleanthous, but the defence held firm until two minutes from time when the home side landed a converted try.

Steve Renny added: "The conditions were always going to dictate our style of play and inevitably our
wingers saw very little of the ball. Our discipline was poor towards the end when we conceded numerous penalties but it feels good to get the win."