Enfield Ignatians’ indifferent run of form continued as they suffered a fourth consecutive league defeat in London Two North-West after losing 22-6 at home to Hammersmith & Fulham.

In a game which had attrition written all over it due to the conditions at Donkey Lane, the blue and golds kept tabs on one of the better teams in the league for more than 60 minutes.

They will also reflect that they went 6-3 ahead on 45 minutes after Jake Bates stroked over a second penalty but were unable to build on this advantage.

The pivotal moment from Ignatians’ perspective was the decision to go for a 5m scrum rather than set up the catch and drive from the lineout, just when the Hammers had a second player yellow carded, and it was something they will rue as they were driven back in the set-piece.

Consequently, the game ran away from Ignatians as Hammersmith successfully lifted the siege and eventually capitalised on the blue and golds’ numerical inferiority following the yellow carding of Wes Warren and Rob Wyer cashed-in with a penalty try and a pushover effort from Tim McNaughton to seal the away victory.

Forced to go for broke in the dying minutes, Ignatians compounded their plight by dropping the ball inside their own 22, and centre Tony Bryant pounced to give the visitors their third try.

Coach Ali Cook believes the team’s decision making proved costly in the league defeat.

Cook said: “The decision to go for the scrum and not the lineout, just when we had driven Hammersmith 15 yards from a maul in the second half, was the key moment in the game, and, as it happens, the wrong decision.

“Although I can’t fault the effort and endeavour of the players, and it was certainly an improvement on the Tabard game.”

After a number of near-misses, Ignatians will be desperate to put the wrongs to right when they visit Woodford in the league on Saturday afternoon.

Ignatians’ seconds gained a default 25-0 win over Harrow seconds in Herts-Middlesex Merit Table One.

Enfield picked up the victory because the opposition conceded the game at the weekend.