Enfield Ignatians' bonanza season has taken another turn for the better. Forced to literally put their promotion hopes on ice because of the February freeze, they have instead found salvation in the Intermediate Cup, having earned themselves a South-Eastern 'final' showdown with East Grinstead following the tumultuous 29-13 home semi-final win over Teddington.

The Donkey Lane final on St Patrick's Day on March 17 doesn't spell the end of the competition by any means, as it effectively doubles up as a national quarter-final by determining who goes through to the final four before the Twickenham final proper. Still, it has been quite a journey and who knows where it will end up?

Yet there were moments on Saturday when Ignatians' four month unbeaten run looked to be disappearing fast out of the window, as the 2011 Senior Vase winners Teddington, back to full strength after a season of injury nightmares, tore into the blue and golds in what proved a full-on semi-final.

Ignatians' much changed line-up, having to accommodate half a dozen absences due to Pacco's wedding, found itself at sixes and sevens for most of the first period, and players openly confessed that this was the "toughest game of the season", a situation compounded by a failure to secure clean ball at the lineout.

Playing down the slope in the first period, and with their lineout functioning well, Teddington dominated territory and possession. Despite getting impressive width on their game, the visitors will rue the fact that they left a shedful of points in the locker room, as both Fergus Farrell and Liam Lonergan went close to claiming tries. A couple of kickable penalties also sailed wide.

It was the sort of wastefulness that Teddington could ill afford and consequently Ignatians' aggressive if over-worked defence, either in the form of the safety cordon provided by the foraging qualities of the tight eight, or the backs, in the form of Sam Emery, Keir Bonnar and Tom Price, repeatedly earned its spurs in the heat of the battle. For no task was ever too big or too small.

Against the run of play, Ignatians, having weathered the worst of the Teddington storm, had the affront to drag themselves up the hill and take the lead on the half-hour mark. Using one of their most lethal weapons, Ignatians set Tan Mbonu free down the right and the powerful winger scythed his way through tackles to claim a trademark score. Jordan Wilson added the extras.

The evil glint of the sun literally played havoc with Ignatians' concentration levels from the restart, as the hosts took their eye of the ball and openly invited a Teddington attack. It was paid for dearly as the visitors worked the ball wide, and Fergus Farrell used his strength to squeeze in at the right-hand corner.

Teddington missed the conversion before taking the lead for the only time in the game when Glen Boyling nudged over a penalty, but, as so often in this game, Ignatians proved pastmasters in soaking-up pressure before showing lethal Cobra-like qualities in the form of a stinging response off limited possession.

Again, the wingers' union found itself in clover. After probing Teddington's right flank and being thwarted by some spirited defence, Ignatians pulled play to the centre, and ever closer to the line, before the move temporarily stalled. It was quickly resurrected and consequently an overlap on the left was successfully exploited as left winger Dan Savagar stepped inside his man for the score.

The ex-Chingford player, Savagar, came on in the final ten minutes of the half as blood replacement for the injured Adam Smith, although the latter returned after the interval and played a shrewd territorial game.

Up 12-8 at the interval, Ignatians raised their game immeasurably after the break. They were soon in Teddington's faces, and, a couple of turnovers later, vice-captain and winger Dannan O'Meachair, tore strips off the defence down the left. Showing the acceleration of a thoroughbred, he also stung like a bee by regathering his own chip to go in under the sticks. Wilson again added the extras.

Any notion that a 19-8 lead would be enough proved fanciful in the extreme. Teddington still had fire in their belly and, with Ignatians' defence stretched to breaking point, and the cover running-out, the visitors roared back via Ryan Sheehan to get within six points.

Again, Ignatians needed to raise their game. They did and Wilson extended the lead after his successfully penalty sailed sweetly through the uprights after Teddington bent the off-side line. Although the scrum-half missed a straightforward attempt soon after, it proved but a blip in the great scheme of things.

Playing off the front foot, Ignatians shrewdly farmed the blindside. Although they initially looked to have blown the chance, the subsequent bounce cruelly eluded the last Teddington defender but fell kindly for the predatory Mbonu. His power did the rest as the resulting fourth try put the icing on the cake. The fourth and final try was successfully 'decorated' by a third Wilson conversion.

The irony of the result won't be lost on Ignatians. Derided in the past as a one-dimensional, forward-orientated outfit, they claimed all four tries via three wingers. As captain Richard Laurence later said: "One of the differences between the two sides was the ability of our wingers to finish off their chances."

Still, the pack more than played its part. The props, Steve Taylor and Christo Kasabi, both proved effective ball carriers. They also asked a lot of questions via the backrow, where Tom Moore, in particular, and Richard Laurence and Wes Warren, were a force at the breakdown. Carl Buckland, at second-row, also grew in stature.

Ignatians also called on three of their four replacements. Savagar, used as a replacement for O'Meachair, got a second bite at the cherry in the final 15 minutes, and both new recruit Paul Bazell and prop Ken Carroll, were introduced as respective replacements for Sean Coyne and Christo Kasabi.

Bazell, whose former clubs include Barnet, is an interesting recruit and he stepped-in at second row as he continues his quest for full fitness following a knee injury.

Coach Emile Hertz said: "The referee {Simon Hardcastle} was very complimentary about our discipline. Although we struggled at times, and particularly in the first-half, the fightback was a credit to our fitness and hard-work. The players really wanted it and I take my hat off to them. I thought Teddington played really well and the scoreline was closer than the final score would indicate."

It's back to league action on Saturday when Ignatians are away to Saffron Walden.