ENFIELD IGNATIANS' ambitions of supplementing third spot in the league by reaching the plate final hinged on a crucial key mistake which echoed the happenings in the Harlequins-Northampton Premiership clash at The Stoop last season. Yes, it can be a very frustrating game at times.

After a poor start, Ignatians clawed themselves into a 22-17 lead following a breakaway try by Ohio Dudu-Orumen with four minutes remaining, and later when informed by the referee that this was the last play of the game, they had only to boot the ball to the safety of touch.

However, some muddled thinking caused Ignatians to run the ball instead. Having charged into contact, Ignatians were duly stripped of the ball for their sins, and from the turnover, the green and white hoops of Cheshunt played their get out of jail card as they landed the equalising try via their speedy winger.

The scores were levelled at 22-22 in the final minute and, with the conversion missed, this meant only one thing: extra-time.

This was probably the last thing that Ignatians needed. As having accumulated a raft of injuries with Tom Moore, Alex McCall and Sam Barnes among those in the wars, they found themselves down to the bare-bones of their playing resources.

In better shape at this point, Cheshunt exploited the numerical superiority to run in two converted tries in the first period of extra time, as Ignatians were forced into a brave rear-guard action. However, the game had run away from them by then.

The early force was with Cheshunt and the hosts landed two tries either side of a Sam Barnes' penalty to lead 10-3 at the interval. Although, in the second Cheshunt try, some ill-discipline from Ignatians led to a yellow-carding of one their players in a position close to their own line.

Exploiting their numerical superiority, Cheshunt ramped up the pressure and successfully worked the ball through their centres to score..

Ignatians reacted well to the seven point deficit and they came out of blocks firing in the second period and,within minutes of the re-start, William Bruce used his strength to force his way over.

Back in the game, Ignatians were to score twice more via the Lewis White and Ohio Dudu-Orumen, but just when they had scented victory, they were forced to swallow the bitter pill of defeat.

Spokesman Martin Baker said: "The game hinged on one bad decision and that's a shame. However, the team really put their bodies on the line and, although we picked up a fair amount of injuries a long the way, players were prepared to stay on the pitch longer than necessary. It was otherwise a very brave effort."