It proved another red letter for the Enfield Tigers as a mixed U18s and U15s side shared the spoils 11-11 after coming from off the pace against their Bishop’s Stortford counterparts at Donkey Lane last Sunday (May 23), writes Jonathan Landi.

In a game which hung in the balance until the very last, the Tigers, beset by early nerves, got off to the worst possible start after trailing 3-0 in the first quarter, before a much improved showing in the second quarter enabled them to reduce the arrears to 6-4.

Key to the improvement was the technical know-how passed on by Steve Renny, and, of course, the girls themselves as they took the messages on board by blasting out of their blocks, as their passing, support play and defence took an upward curve.

It was nip and tuck in the third quarter which Bishop’s Stortford just about shaded 9-8, and this set up a tense finale in front of a captivating audience, as players from other teams swelled the ranks of the crowd once their games had ended, and added to the ambiance.

Taking the cue from a passionate home support, and with their defence and support play in much better order, the Tigers’ fierce comeback even enabled them to scent a famous victory after nosing ahead 11-9.

However, the pacesetting Bishop’s Stortford, the more fluent of the two teams, roared back with a brace of tries of their own to level matters at 11-11.

It all went to the last roll of the dice as the Tigers went for broke and they squeezed in at the right corner at the death but referee Brian Davey rightly ruled out the score for a foot in touch. Still, a fair score-line in a thrilling game which no side deserved to lose.

There’s no escaping that both sides entertained regally and one must also credit the Tigers for some great defence, just when a try seemed almost certain, and the willingness to try things such as kicking ahead in an effort to gain ground. It almost came off…and perhaps in the future it will...

Head coach Tom Mann was equally delighted by the showing as combined U11s/U13s and U15s side, and mixed age groups are allowed under Ready4Rugby rules, showed their guile with a comprehensive 19-10 win over Bishop’s Stortford on the adjoining pitch.

The Enfield Tigers certainly sharpened their claws in mid-week as 30 girls attended a training session with guest coach Maddy Vaughan-Joncey, whose playing career has taken in the Saracens and Old Albanians women’s teams, and their enthusiasm and application was there for all to see. It was instructive evening whichcertainly paid off on the playing field.