RUGBY

Enfield Ignatians 37
Fullerians 10
(Senior Vase, round three)

ENFIELD Ignatians’ fraught weekend ended on a high as they successfully negotiated the potential pitfalls of two major cup competitions with something to spare, writes Jonathan Landi.

The fruits of much pre-planning began on Saturday when Ignatians overcame the spirited resistance of Watford-based Fullerians.

Coach Ali Cook said: “The high penalty count against us in the first-half invariably compromised our continuity in the first-half.

"But we tightened up in the second-half and it was nice to see the players enjoying themselves.”

Not that the game was ever the cakewalk that the score-line suggested as Fullerians, in true cup underdog fashion, belied their lowly league status by throwing everything at Ignatians and were very much in touch after trailing 15-3 at the break.

The advantage Ignatians garnered by Chris Lyons’ splendid solo effort, and Wes Warren’s controversial pushover score, was then cut to five points after Fullerians carved a huge overlap which provided the impetus for Greg Bezzer’s fine score.

However, Ignatians, tentative and ill disciplined in the first-half – they coughed up ten penalties - progressively started to find their range, and Fullerians copped the backlash as the visitors predictably wilted under the strain.

It also helped that experienced scrum-half Mickey Piper was in rip-roaring form, which saw him claim the last of his side’s five tries.

His cultured boot also did huge damage. He added three conversions, and two penalties, for a fine personal haul of 17 points.

Ignatians’ wingers also resurfaced with a vengeance after a barren season, and Toby Rome rounded off a fine counter attacking move, before Andy O’Byrne cashed in on some fine approach work as the hosts closed on a high.

Ignatians also progressed to the quarter-final stage of the Middlesex Cup after ruthlessly brushing aside the challenge of Hampstead 34-0 on Sunday.

The relentless onslaught yielded a brace each from Andy Roper and Richard Laurence, plus a try from Robin Ward.

Fullback Brian Galvin also did his bit to keep the scoreboard kicking by adding a penalty and three conversions.

Ignatians are back in league action on Saturday when they visit Saffron Walden.

Meanwhile, the Ignatians third team lost 42-22 to Welwyn three's in a friendly, but the fourth's were on song by beating Mill Hill two's 12-5.