Enfield Ignatians did their level best to ruin Fullerians’ promotion party but even an immense defensive effort wasn’t quite enough to rain on their parade as they were beaten 17-3 in London Two North West.

Under the cosh for huge periods of the first half, and particularly the set-piece, Ignatians put in a huge defensive shift and will reflect that they did very well to be only 12-0 down at the break.

Fullerians twice breached the Ignatians line in the opening period and were initially awarded a penalty try after scrum-half, Owen Perks, was deemed guilty of have denied the visitors a clear-cut try-scoring opportunity by killing the ball. The half-back also copped a yellow card for his pains.

The ability of the Fullers full-back to hit the line at pace was the catalyst of the visitors’ second try. The extra man freed up space out for the left winger to score, but otherwise the blue and golds’ defensive line with Keir Bonnar, Richard Laurence and Ben Mills all in fine form, held firm.

Ignatians came out firing after the break and, to their credit, they put Fullerians under some serious pressure. They had three shots at goal, one of which was potted by Jake Bates, and they also threatened an interception score via Hadee Fayaz which quite didn’t come off.

Ignatians also lost man-of-the-match Keir Bonnar to the sin-bin and, ironically Fullers, capitalising on a poor tapped ball on an Ignatians’ defensive throw close to the line, added a third try to out the game beyond reach. However, the champions were certainly subjected to a very stiff examination.

Captain Keir Bonnar said: “We played really well. The commitment was really excellent and, from one to fifteen, everyone was really up for it and played out of their skins. Our defence was excellent.

“It was always going to be difficult to get a result on the back on the two yellow cards but I’m really pleased by the way we approached the game. Our attitude and work-rate was exemplary.”

Ignatians are away to Hampstead in the final league game of the season on Saturday.

Ignatians Thirds suffered an agonising 12-11 defeat to Hackney Thirds in the Herts-Middlesex Merit Table Five semi-final.

A try from Dave Korthals and two penalties from the boot of David Conlan weren’t quite enough as the visitors marched on to the final with a late try.