Enfield Ignatians Under-18s rugby club were crowned champions of the Herts-Middlesex Division Four this weekend after the no show of their final opponents Royston confirmed their 100 per cent record.

The conceding of the fixture by Royston means the Ignatians were awarded a default 45-0 win.

Tabard and Hackney Bulls were sent packing by similar scorelines, whereas Fullerians B and Hitchin B were respectively humbled 51-10 and 43-0.

Coach Steve Renny said: “It’s something that has been a long time coming after five seasons of coming second. We can be well proud of winning all our [five] games and, although it hasn’t been the hardest of leagues, we had anticipated far stiffer competition from Fullerians and Tabard.

“Fullerians, who have beaten us in the past, were reckoned to be our toughest opponents but we put a shed load of points on them in very muddy conditions.

“The side [Enfield Ignatians U18s] has really come together this season and the parents, in particular, have noticed a big difference in terms of much greater cohesion and improved communication in the group.”

The Under-18s did not lay idle on their victory parade day. They took the initiative by inviting Hertford for a game and, despite not firing on all cylinders, the blue and golds ran in three tries via Matthew Priddle, Donny Noble and Tom Sears, one of which was converted by Alex Bucknall, to win 17-0.

After which the U18s squad, with their coaches in tow, celebrated the achievement with the time honoured photo opportunity and ‘champagne’ shower under the posts.

Steve Renny added: “We made a lot of mistakes but our dominant scrum gave us a lot of go forward against Hertford, and hopefully, we will be playing them again before the season ends.”

The Under-14s have turned their fortunes around as last season’s strugglers, boosted by some new additions to the squad continued their fine run of form with a 36-19 win over The Bank of England.

The Under-14s who remain possible promotion candidates ran in six tries through three tries by Ben Phillips and one each from Akin James, Robbie McClymont and Ryan Loo. The latter also added three conversions and was one of the side’s standout players.

Enfield Ignations’ journey in the Intermediate Cup ended in the third round against London Two North-West league leaders Fullerians, when the ability of the Watford side to raise its game and hit the target at key moments in the second half proved the difference between the sides.

Humbled 42-7 in the league fixture in December, the improvements from Ignatians’ perspective were tangible.

The blue and golds put in a huge defensive shift which ensured they were only three points in arrears at 10-7 down at the break after their fly-half converted his own try.

Speaking after the 27-7 defeat, coach Ali Cook said: “We had four to five gilt-edged opportunities in and around the Fullerians’ 22, but knocked-on each occasion.

"These are the fine margins that turn a game and we really do need to make sure that we finish off our opportunities.”