Ignatians Face Cyprus in Pre-Season Curtain Raiser

Enfield Ignatians have been busy finalising their pre-season programme and they have a mouthwatering fixture against a Cyprus select fifteen pencilled-in at Donkey Lane on Sunday, August 26th. The kick-off time is 3pm.

Ignatians are using the game as a stepping stone to their first league game away to North Walsham in London Two North-East on September 15th.

However, the game should prove informative for both sides. Particularly as it will give the Cypriot national coach, Paul Shanks, the chance to assess the form of the British-based members of the national team which has been promoted to European Group 2C following a flawless campaign which yielded eight wins in as many games, and a maximum 40 points.

Far too powerful for the likes of Greece, Finland, Luxembourg and Bulgaria, Cyprus' free-running style has won many admirers, and they have also raised a few eyebrows by beating Leeds University in the final of the Ashby Sevens Tournament.

Ignatians' president Martin Baker said: "It's a game we are really looking forward to and we hope that the large Cypriot community on our doorstep will support the game. We have strong links with Cyprus as three of our players currently play for the national side, and we have hosted two training sessions for the national side at Donkey Lane this year."

After the Cyprus game, Ignatians' coach, Emile Hertz, has also organised a home friendly against Tabard on Saturday, September 1. The two sides are no strangers to meeting each other in pre-season friendlies, and Ignatians will be going for the hat-trick after prior 10-7 and 23-13 wins against the Hertfordshire side at Cobden Hill.