TWOS FARM CONDITIONS IN TEXTBOOK STYLE

Enfield Ignatians IIs: 42 - Weston 1s: 26 Herts Middx Merit Table 2

There's a lot to be said for getting off to a good start and the opening barrage in the first 15 minutes from Ignatians when, the fiendish wind was firmly in their favour, laid down the foundations of an impressive win over Weston in a high-scoring and entertaining game at Donkey Lane. Playing the conditions perfectly, the blue and golds were sent on their way by a brace of tries from Jack O'Toole, a fly-half by trade but playing out of position on the wing; the first having its origins in a neat chip through which opened up the Weston defence. A neat kick over the top ensured a further five pointer from O'Toole.

Ignatians' forte was to keep the scoreboard ticking and the blue and golds also landed a third try after scrum-half Anzl Swartz played a flat-ball which centre Phil Tucker successfully took on the crash. Weston rallied belatedly to land a couple of tries but there's no escaping that a rampant Ignatians were good value for their 30-12 half-time lead, and the blue and golds added to their game after Paul Duke converted all three tries as well as landing three penalties in the opening period.

Weston were also in the ascendancy for the first part of the second-half when a two try salvo took the visitors to within four points.
However, Weston's resurgence ended there as Ignatians effectively shut up shop by reverting to tight mode and the pin-point accuracy of Swartz's delivery successfully located Cornish prop, Stuart Blemings, who hit the blindside of a ruck at pace and the rest, as they say, is history. Ignatians' also had the last laugh and again the forwards finished off via second row Lewis White, whose presence of mind in running a quick tap penalty rounded out a fine afternoon's work for the hosts.

Spokesman Paul Duke said: "It was a really good game and we tapped in to the win over Woodford IIs {in a friendly} to set the tone of our performance. However, we were down to the bare bones of 15 as a squad and, with one of two players playing out of position, we were expecting a tough game. "As regards the Man of the Match award it was shared equally between Phil Tucker and Jake Baker, who did really well at second row. I must also salute the work of the tight five, Stuart Blemings, Ken Carroll, Ray Hayes, Lewis White, whose work rate around the field laid down the foundations of victory."