Enfield Ignatians ended their league campaign with a 39-18 loss to Hampstead and although they recorded the exact same number of wins (eight) as last season, they did have the consolation of finishing a place higher, in ninth, in London Two North-West.

Ignatians landed their only points of the first-half via Jake Bates whose two penalties ensured that the visitors were still in hung despite a 17-6 half-time deficit.

Third-placed Hampstead collected a further two tries after the interval but this promoted a positive response from the visitors as Ben Mills gained a pushover try with Bates adding the conversion.

There was controversy for Hampstead's sixth try as the referee failed to spot a knock-on but the Hammers were firmly in the box-seat and a chip and chase from the outside centre wrapped-up the scoring for the hosts.

To Enfield's credit, they never have in and had the final say when replacement Lewis Ward squeezed in at the corner as they deferred to the back-line.

Captain Keir Bonnar said: "We played well in patches. However, Hampstead were the more clinical of the two sides.

"They fed off our errors and took their chances well. Frank Antwi was our Man of the Match. He carried well and was the also the author of a strong defensive effort."

The Enfield Ignatians IIs were denied 36-22 by Cheshunt in the Herts-Middlesex Merit Table Two Plate semi-final which went to extra time. Tries by William Bruce, Lewis White and Ohio Dudu-Orumen meant that it level pegging at 22-22 all at full-time.

However, Cheshunt turned the game with two converted tries in the first period of extra time.

However, Enfield Ignatians IIIs are through to the final of the main cup competition of Herts-Middlesex Merit Table Four after Black Horse conceded the fixture. They will face Fullerians IIIs in the final on Saturday, April 22 at Harrow.