BLUE AND GOLDS HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME AS FINCHLEY TAKE SUMMERS LANE SHOWDOWN

FINCHLEY IIs: 30 - ENFIELD IGNATIANS IIs: 28

It was a classical case of the good, the bad and the ugly as the twos' high penalty count ultimately consigned the visitors to a narrow defeat to Finchley IIs in a game which was high on entertainment value, and whose outcome was only sealed late on by the Summers Lane outfit.

The propensity of giving away cheap penalties and ill-discipline blighted much of Ignatians' foundation work, and a poor start which entailed the visitors conceding two tries to Finchley's strong rolling maul was synonymous of the malaise.

However, Ignatians did regroup and the mobile Seyi Adeosun pulled one back for Ignatians after he beat his man on the outside for pace.

Finchley's strong start in the game was again evident as the red and whites added a third try, which prompted a positive response from Ignatians after Man of the Match, Eron Dottin-Wilson (Pictured) , finished off a neat backs' move.Paul Duke's second conversion ensured that Ignatians remained very much in the contest at 15-14 down going to the break.

The intensity continued in the third quarter and Ray Hayes, cutting a lovely line off the nine, dynamited the Finchley defensive line for the third time after the Ignatians' tight eight had battered away around the fringes.

In a see-saw contest, Finchley responded by claiming a fourth try, but they were still a point behind on the scoreboard, and Ignatians forged eight points clear after deferring to the backline from an initial catch and drive at the lineout- and the in-form Rondel Bernard finished off with aplomb.

The game was here for the taking at this point, but Ignatians imploded at vital moments and the concession of two cheap penalties proved their undoing. On the 72nd and the 78th minutes, Finchley's strong maul got going and successive pushover tries ultimately proved the difference.

Paul Duke, who converted all four of Ignatians' tries, said: "Ultimately ill discipline and a mounting penalty count has cost us, although Finchley scored more tries (six) than us - none of which were converted. We {as a team} had a chat after the game and the boys understand why they lost the game. The focus is now very much on the game against Hitchin in two weeks' time (Saturday week) and the mood in the camp is positive. Eron Dottin-Wilson was our Man of the Match. He took his try opportunity well and he also made some telling and vital tackles."