Ignations

Ignations

5th March 2005

Friendly Vs Enfield Ignations 1st Team

Result = Old Ashmoleans 3 - 48 Enfield Ignations

The biggest game of OA's season could not have come at a worst time, decimated by injury and with very few matches to show for their efforts since Christmas.

Ignations were having a good season sitting fourth in London 3, whilst five leagues below them Ashmole were looking to secure their second consecutive league championship.

With the Ashmole injury list nearly into double figures it was left to the core of the squad and the help of some new faces and second team players to battle a near complete Ignations 1st team.

This particular derby match was new to both sets of players and neither side were keen to lose, on paper Ignations had the clear advantage but you could never right off this OA's side, too often before they have risen above their league status and beat better opposition. An enthralling match against London Welsh 2nd team is one of those vivid memories that will forever be remembered, but today the odds are stacked against them even more heavily, and would there depleted squad have just too much of a task ahead?

The game kicked off with Ashmole playing into a stormy headwind, Ignations immediately attacked OA's and they looked eager to play an open attack minded style of rugby, normally seen by their opponents. It was a concern to OA's before the game that if the were forced into a defensive trench by the Ignations onslaught they may not be able to hold them off, their best form of defence would certainly be an offensive one but to do that they needed the ball.

Ignations rucking was suberb, never committing more than four players and winning their own ball the majority of the time, the referee put pay to their bridging tactics when he was able to but on the whole the Ignations front five had the beating of their opponents. One area however that did not see Ignations take advantage of was the scrums, despite missing Craig, the visibly smaller Ashmole pack were giving a good account of themselves, it was only when prop Leo suffered a reoccurring back injury that Ignations gained the upper hand.

Unfortunately for OA's they did get pinned into a defensive game, one that never really suits them and that ultimately lead to a poor first half, whilst you felt that the wind was worth twenty points to Ignations, the thirty point lead that they had accumulated was perhaps a little too big for Ashmole to catch up.

Coach Emile was disappointed with the first half, Ignations had really come at them with all guns blazing, but he could not fault the effort, there was a lot of players putting in a huge amount of work. Captain Grainger showed a glimpse of their attacking ability when he lost his marker and burst through the Ignations back line, out on his own he tried to grubber kick ahead as a defender charged towards him, only to see his effort bounce cruelly off the defenders shins and set Ignations up for a break away try. Today was not their day, they say that luck favours the brave but this game re-wrote the phrase book.

Ashmole started the second half with none of their determination or confidence diminished, despite the score Emile had been able to rally his troops and keep their spirits high. For a large part of the third quarter, OA's pounded the Ignations try line, on several occasions they came close to evading the final tackle. The now favoured line out over through worked yet again to good effect, Gabby found Grainger who initially broke the line but the final pass was spoiled by the Ignations defence as he popped it up to Tarron on the loop. It was a well worked move that could have so nearly resulted in the try they deserved but all credit to the visitors they were able to deal with all that Ashmole had on the day.

The frustration was beginning to show as the OA's effort faded towards the end of the game, Igantions grabbed a few late tries and even the late introduction of Jacob, Johan and Thyss (who made a huge effort to get back from France to help the team) could not prevent Ignations dominance in this match.

Both clubs are keen to make this a permanent fixture and Ashmole will be hoping for a fully fit squad which I am confident would give Ignations a good run for their money. In conclusion the game will have provided Ashmole with a huge aid to their ever growing learning curve and it will give them some idea of just how they have progressed. If they do gain promotion this year, Herts/Middx 2 is still a league too low for this impressive young side.

Scorers: -none-

Cons/Pens: Andy Martin Pensx1


	Top Scorers 2004/5 SEASON \| Hendon \| Totts \| Saracens Ams \| Ignations \| Woodford \| Hemel \| Watford \| Totts \| Hackney \| Saracens Ams \| Hendon \| Harrow \| Letchworth \| Watford \| Ilford \| Hatfield \| Upper Clapton \| West London \| Mill Hill \| Aylestone Ignations 5th March 2005 Friendly Vs Enfield Ignations 1st Team Result = Old Ashmoleans 3 - 48 Enfield Ignations The biggest game of OA's season could not have come at a worst time, decimated by injury and with very few matches to show for their efforts since Christmas. Ignations were having a good season sitting fourth in London 3, whilst five leagues below them Ashmole were looking to secure their second consecutive league championship. With the Ashmole injury list nearly into double figures it was left to the core of the squad and the help of some new faces and second team players to battle a near complete Ignations 1st team. This particular derby match was new to both sets of players and neither side were keen to lose, on paper Ignations had the clear advantage but you could never right off this OA's side, too often before they have risen above their league status and beat better opposition. An enthralling match against London Welsh 2nd team is one of those vivid memories that will forever be remembered, but today the odds are stacked against them even more heavily, and would there depleted squad have just too much of a task ahead? The game kicked off with Ashmole playing into a stormy headwind, Ignations immediately attacked OA's and they looked eager to play an open attack minded style of rugby, normally seen by their opponents. It was a concern to OA's before the game that if the were forced into a defensive trench by the Ignations onslaught they may not be able to hold them off, their best form of defence would certainly be an offensive one but to do that they needed the ball. Ignations rucking was suberb, never committing more than four players and winning their own ball the majority of the time, the referee put pay to their bridging tactics when he was able to but on the whole the Ignations front five had the beating of their opponents. One area however that did not see Ignations take advantage of was the scrums, despite missing Craig, the visibly smaller Ashmole pack were giving a good account of themselves, it was only when prop Leo suffered a reoccurring back injury that Ignations gained the upper hand. Unfortunately for OA's they did get pinned into a defensive game, one that never really suits them and that ultimately lead to a poor first half, whilst you felt that the wind was worth twenty points to Ignations, the thirty point lead that they had accumulated was perhaps a little too big for Ashmole to catch up. Coach Emile was disappointed with the first half, Ignations had really come at them with all guns blazing, but he could not fault the effort, there was a lot of players putting in a huge amount of work. Captain Grainger showed a glimpse of their attacking ability when he lost his marker and burst through the Ignations back line, out on his own he tried to grubber kick ahead as a defender charged towards him, only to see his effort bounce cruelly off the defenders shins and set Ignations up for a break away try. Today was not their day, they say that luck favours the brave but this game re-wrote the phrase book. Ashmole started the second half with none of their determination or confidence diminished, despite the score Emile had been able to rally his troops and keep their spirits high. For a large part of the third quarter, OA's pounded the Ignations try line, on several occasions they came close to evading the final tackle. The now favoured line out over through worked yet again to good effect, Gabby found Grainger who initially broke the line but the final pass was spoiled by the Ignations defence as he popped it up to Tarron on the loop. It was a well worked move that could have so nearly resulted in the try they deserved but all credit to the visitors they were able to deal with all that Ashmole had on the day. The frustration was beginning to show as the OA's effort faded towards the end of the game, Igantions grabbed a few late tries and even the late introduction of Jacob, Johan and Thyss (who made a huge effort to get back from France to help the team) could not prevent Ignations dominance in this match. Both clubs are keen to make this a permanent fixture and Ashmole will be hoping for a fully fit squad which I am confident would give Ignations a good run for their money. In conclusion the game will have provided Ashmole with a huge aid to their ever growing learning curve and it will give them some idea of just how they have progressed. If they do gain promotion this year, Herts/Middx 2 is still a league too low for this impressive young side. Scorers: -none- Cons/Pens: Andy Martin Pensx1