ENFIELD IGNATIANS 10 HARROW 7

Although never quite firing on all cylinders, having not fired a shot in anger for three weeks, Enfield Ignatians dug deep when it mattered most and their greater resolve enabled them to secure an invaluable win against fourth-placed Harrow at Donkey Lane, writes Jonathan Landi

Beaten 33-14 by the same opposition in September, Ignatians certainly had a point to prove, but they initially struggled to find their range in clement if cold conditions, and despite the presence of the 16th man, the raucous President’s Lunch crowd.

Consequently, with Ignatians struggling to find their bearings, Harrow had much the better of the early exchanges and, over the course of a protracted 15-minute spell, the visitors had a glut of chances, including an ambitious long-range pot at goal, only to be continually thwarted by some very dogged defence.

As Ignatians literally met the challenge head-on in the form of some thumping tackles, with the likes of Paul Duke and Euan Renny leading by shining example, as the home side repeatedly slammed the trapdoor shut.

However, Ignatians were also far too ponderous at times and they paid the ultimate price after Duke had a kick charged down, and Harrow were quick to pounce, having secured a 7-0 lead after potting the conversion.

Although the signalling from the man in the middle wasn't always clear, and both sides were baffled at times, it should also be said that the churned-up pitch was hardly conducive to the ebb and flow, but falling behind proved the wake-up call Ignatians needed, as they belatedly started to make use of the best weapon in their arsenal: a dominant pack.

Their front row of Finlay MacKay, Sam Hatchett, MOM Calum Middleton, and Matt Pollard when he came on, gave their opponents a right buffeting, and with the winds of fortune starting to change, Ignatians got into some very decent attacking positions.

However, the home side were wasteful as a number of good chances on both sides of the field went begging, but at least Ignatians had found a way back into the game, and they proved far a more assured presence after the turn around.

As, for the main, they had Harrow largely where they wanted them and, although they lost Dan Shaw to the sin-bin (high tackle), the visitors paid a higher area in this area via two yellow cards, as Ignatians slowly but steadily turned the screw.

Eventually, frustration alley gave way to final quarter redemption, and from the platform of a scrum deep in Harrow territory, the rampaging Frank Antwi’s dart from the base and blindside probe laid the foundations for Ignatians’ first try.

Some decent link play and quick hands successively saw the ball shipped to and Paul Duke and the touchline-hugging Ryan Loo, with the latter having the presence of mind to ‘step’ his man before roaring-in for the try. At long last…

However, Ignatians had their danders up and they subsequently moved in for the kill, with Antwi’s meandering run, towards the far left touchline, taking his side into pick and go territory.

Ignatians constructed patiently, having rumbled the ball through five to six phases, before Finlay Mackay, from a position close to the line, forced his way over for the game-changing try.

Ignatians’ had further chances to extend the lead and they really ought to have put the game to bed but, when they got sloppy and turned the ball close to the Harrow line, the visitors went for broke, but Ignatians held firm and refused to be denied, as the referee called time.

Captain Euan Renny: “It was a tough game but the defence was great. It was an overdue win and we needed that after the Barnet reverse. We put in a great shift and the main thing was to secure the points.”

The win moves Ignatians’ up a place to ninth in a congested Counties Two Herts-Middlesex league – ahead of the visit to Saracens Amateurs on Saturday 21 December.

The EIRFC squad (all used): Adam Moorley, Frazer Briers, Wesley Chase, Ryan Loo, Lawrence Loo, Paul Duke, Dan Shaw, Finlay Mackay, Sam Hatchett, Calum Middleton, Liam Horn, Sam Rushmer, Declan Linnane, Euan Renny (cpt), Frank Antwi, Matt Pollard, Ben Villamor, Rondel Bernard.
Tries: Ryan Loo, Finlay Mackay.
MOM: Calum Middleton.