The coach of Enfield Ignatians praised his charges for how they adapted their game in the wind and rain to beat Letchworth Garden City 18-11.

The hosts had trailed 11-3 but roused themselves for a grandstand finish and, given a helping hand by some Letchworth indiscipline in the form of two yellow cards, turned Saturday's game on its head.

Coach Shane Manning said: “Our game plan went out of the window in the first half as we tried to run the ball too much and off-load too much in what were bad conditions.

“We turned it around in the second half as we started to play more for territory and we were able to keep up the pressure which showed in the penalty count.

“It was a good comeback by the team and, if anything, I thought we played with a little more self-belief following the Hemel Hempstead loss. There is still lots to work on but it’s encouraging.”

A charge down score and a penalty had seen Letchworth lead 8-3 at the break, an advantage extended by another penalty in the second half.

However, Ignatians’ fitness levels and new-found self-belief were other decisive factors as the home side, with the penalty count by now largely in their favour, started to flex their collective muscles.

Enfield inched themselves to within a point after they set up a driving maul after a Letchworth transgression, and Charlie Hoy and Dave Gear played pivotal roles before Liam Dunne rumbled over.

A fine conversion by Jake Bates was followed by a successful penalty by the captain as the blue and golds claimed a 13-11 lead late in the game.

Ignatians continued to ratchet up the pressure and were rewarded with a second try from hooker Ben Mills after he was given a helping hand by a return pass from man of the match Gear.

In what proved an impressive afternoon for the Ignatians senior section, the twos had a rousing 34-15 win over last season’s league and cups winner, Ampthill Fourths, in Herts-Middlesex Merit Table Two.