THREES SHADE THRILLER AGAINST HANWELL

By Hadee Fayaz

writes Jonathan Landi

Enfield Ignatians IIIs 19 Hanwell 17

The threes have yet to reach concert pitch but they made the most of their first pre-season opportunity by using their dominant forward platform to repel the spirited efforts of west London visitors Hanwell.

At the final whistle only a mere two points separated the sides, but captain Steve Renny believes that there is better to come from a side which blended youth with experience. He said: “Our pack dominated in most areas of play but we probably left four tries on the paddock, and we will be looking to step-up before the start of the league season.”

In a game played over four quarters of 20 minutes, Ignatians were first on the scoreboard after scrum-half Sam Barnes scored a try which combined the fortuitous and the burlesque. Chasing his own kick, Barnes received an unexpected bonus after the receiver made a hash of it, with the ball rebounding off the latter’s chest and into the grateful arms of the half-back. Gleefully accepting the gift, the scrum-half dotted down under the sticks before converting his own try.

Ignatians then got sloppy and were twice caught napping as Hanwell manufactured two tries of their own.

The blue and golds regained the lead at the half-way mark with a wonderful solo effort from flanker and Man of the Match Ted Stewart.
Again, the pack laid the foundations and, from a neat pop-up pass, the loose forward eagerly devoured the opportunity running three-quarters of the length of the pitch to score; a journey which saw him dance his way past a couple of defenders as Ignatians snared a 12-10 half-time lead.

That didn’t last long. As, early in the third quarter, Hanwell were soon knocking at the door and they claimed a third try, which they converted, as the visitors again threw down the gauntlet to Ignatians.

There were uneasy moments too for Ignatians as silly mistakes blighted their play and Hanwell needed no second invitation by camping on the blue and gold line. Throwing bodies forward heroically, Ignatians eventually lifted the siege and eventually found the way to win – with Femi Adeosun’s try, converted by Barnes, proving to be the game changer.

Steve Renny added: “The threes will be playing a league down this year {Herts-Middlesex Merit Table Four North-East}. The plan is, at this
stage, for a combined side involving the twos and threes to play in a friendly against Old Grammarians before the season starts on September 22. "