Enfield Ignatians duo Ethan Renny and Ben Mills produced brave performances in the green of the Hertfordshire Under-20 side, which was outgunned by defending champions Yorkshire 79-24 in the semi-finals of the County Championship at Doncaster.

Indeed, Renny, variously deployed as a blindside and openside flanker, had the satisfaction of scoring Herts’ fourth and final try as he latched on to the pin-point cross-field kick of Andrew Nurse in the final minute.

Ignatians spokesman Steve Renny said: “Ben, introduced from off the bench, and Ethan both tackled their hearts out.

“However, Yorkshire were a big physical unit, with the pace to the match their power, and they battered Hertfordshire.”

Reaching the Twickenham final has proved a step too far for the Hertfordshire side this season, but Mills, Renny and Cairo Sango, the third Ignatian to have represented the county, can look back on their performances in the tournament with pride.

Hertfordshire progressed to the last four on the back of winning two of their three pool games, following victories against Kent and Surrey, before getting the better of Gloucestershire in the quarter-final of the competition.

Meanwhile, the Ignatians senior academy side defeated Bishops Stortford B 19-7 in a game officiated by National One referee Paul Carroll.

The pack laid the foundations of victory and Kian Linnane, Finlay MacKay and Calum Middleton were the try scorers, two of which were converted, as the blue and golds rebounded from their defeat against Woodbridge.

Coach Renny said: “I thought our game management was good as we took it in the forwards when we needed to, but also used the backs when called for.”