UNDER-POWERED THREES SUCCUMB TO THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS AT HENDON

The writing was the wall for the threes from the moment that two late cry-offs forced Ignatians to take the field with 13 players.
The visitors tried hard to plug the gaps, but with two forwards, Paul Winship and Rob Gardener, effectively having to undergo the culture shock of having to stand-in at centre, it was always going to be a tall order for the visitors despite both sides playing with 13 players each as per the new rules.
Ignatians had their moments. The six-man pack was certainly in the thick of it at times but, with the
visitors unable to match Hendon's prowess out wide, there was a certain inevitability about the scoreline. Dan Jones (two) and Eron Dottin-Wilson, a winger by trade but deployed out of position at fullback, were the try scorers.
Captain Steve Renny said: "It was always annoying when availability becomes an issue. However, it's something we're working hard at addressing and I'm confident that we will be able to field stronger squads in the coming weeks, and that we will be able to win our fair share of games.
"We played well in parts and, although the forwards performed well, it was inevitable that we were going to be found wanting out wide as we had no like-for-like deputies in that area, and Hendon were able to adapt that much better in the backs. Even some of our backs were playing out of position.
"We're of the opinion that we should play our games regardless as even if you lose you get three points,
and that's far better than being docked points."