Enfield Ignatians Senior Academy cruise to National Cup win

Building on their league-opening success a week earlier, Ignatians produced another commanding performance, combining the power of their pack with slick handling to run in eight tries.

The victory sets up a meeting with Woodford in the next round in November.

Coach Steve Corcoran was delighted with the performance, saying: “Our attacking flair in the first half was matched only by the defensive doggedness in the second. It was great to see the boys enjoying their rugby.”

There was disappointment for the U14s, however, as they suffered a 45-17 home defeat against Verulamians in Herts-Middlesex Pool D.

Ignatians had held the upper hand during the opening period and reached the interval having scored three tries to their opponents’ two.

But the contest was transformed after the break as Verulamians made full use of their strong bench, running in five unanswered tries to secure victory.

It also proved another difficult outing for the Enfield Ignatians first team as their stuttering start to the Counties Two Middlesex campaign continued with a 73-27 home defeat against Old Millhillians.

Senior Academy graduate Dalton Nsimbe scored the hosts’ only try of a difficult first half, with Old Millhillians dominating proceedings to build a commanding 59-5 advantage.

Ignatians responded strongly after the interval and produced a much-improved second-half display.

Sam Rushmer, Liam Horn, William Halstead and Carl Asare-Anderson all crossed the line as the hosts found some attacking rhythm and fought back with four further tries.

Their five-try haul at least provided some consolation in the form of a bonus point, which lifted Ignatians above Kilburn Cosmos at the foot of the table.

Ignatians will now look to carry their improved second-half showing into Friday’s away derby against Saracens Amateurs under the lights.

I’ve mainly tightened the original wording, improved the transitions between the three teams and made the contrasting fortunes clearer, while keeping the Senior Academy’s excellent cup victory as the strongest opening angle.