Enfield Ignatians brought the curtain down on their London 2 North East campaign in disappointing fashion on Saturday, losing 45-29 to South Woodham Ferrers at Donkey Lane.

The loss was the Ignatians' sixth on the spin and ensures the finish the season in ninth place.

In the ascendancy for much of the first quarter, Ignatians were first to score.

After the forwards camped close to the visitors' line, the pressure paid off with the returning number eight, Wes Warren, forcing his way over for a score converted by Jordan Wilson.

However, silly mistakes blighted the Blue and Golds' game and a number of unforced errors, combined with their defensive patterns going awry, allowed a fightback from South Woodham Ferrers with the Essex side running-in three tries to capitalise fully.

Although forced onto the back foot, despite playing down the slope and with the wind at their back, Ignatians managed a second try after winger Hadee Fayaz neatly stepped inside his man as the Blue Golds trailed 19-12 at the interval.

South Woodham Ferrers also outscored Ignatians after the break by four tries to three, with the home side carelessly conceding an interception try.

With the injury count mounting, the odds continued to stack up against the hosts.

Despite their woes there were moments of inspiration from Ignatians, who refused to go down without a fight, adding a further three touchdowns after the interval to secure a losing bonus point.

Liam Horn scored try number three, the loose forward barging his way over from a successful catch and drive at the lineout.

And winger Ryan Browne showed his lethal finishing qualities by scoring out wide for tries four and five.

Wilson, the author of a second-half conversion, was unable to complete the match as he was forced off with a suspected ankle injury, whilst scrum-half Toby Atkinson-Coyle also saw his afternoon end early after tweaking a hamstring.

Speaking afterwards, skills coach Steve Atkinson said: "We made a bright start and the first 15 minutes were really encouraging, but we clearly have work to do in the summer as we conceded four tries from re-starts. Our defence also let us down in this game."

The Ignatians Fourths enjoyed are through to the Middlesex Merit Table Five Cup final on April 25 after trouncing Hackney Thirds 56-0 in the semi-finals.