The tumult emanating from the Beccles' huddle in the seconds preceding the kick-off left no doubt that the visitors were not going to roll over without a fight, and the Suffolk band-of-brothers, literally fighting for their lives, cashed in on Ignatians' uncertain mindset by roaring into a 12-0 lead with barely 15 minutes on the clock.

Beccles' lively scrum-half Marcus Sale picked a lovely line from a position close to the Ignatians' line on two minutes, and the visitors struck again ten minutes later when the visitors, proving very adept at keeping the ball alive, showed some good handling skills before Stefan Holmes' angled run saw him go over in the corner.

To their credit, Ignatians showed considerable bottle to weather Beccles attack. Needing to win to avoid relegation, the Bulls eventually failed in that mission but not before the underdogs had threatened to upstage the blue and golds with a forceful first-half display which secured them a deserved 18-14 half-time lead.

Also intent on relishing the freedom of the park, Ignatians got back in the game after a impressive centre showed good strength on his feet, pirouetted his way through several tackles before successfully releasing his winger to score out wide.

Not that Beccles had any intention of going away. A couple of well taken Luke Wade penalties, allied to a conversion of the first try, extended the visitors lead to 18-7.

However, Beccles struggled to keep tabs on the home side centre, after a neat show of the ball, he gave the defence the run around for a very well taken score and had reduced the deficit to four points at the break.

Playing up the slope in the second period, Ignatians continued to fall foul of the whistle of referee Gary Marchant, and Wade again punished the blue and golds for not releasing the tackler.

The Bull forwards had a rare nightmare in the scrum, being completely decimated at times second half. Credit to the boys whom did turn up and stood up to the biggest and best drilled pack faced this season.

The home sides pack then controlled the game for large periods of the half, this resulted in 2 well taken pack tries . With Smith's conversion gave Ignatians the lead for the first time, and although Beccles' Wade atoned for two earlier second-half misses with a successful penalty strike, it proved but a mere blip in the great scheme of things as Ignatians' rampant pack took charge.

Not that the game was quite finished. Beccles rallied for a third try via Sam Long whom was well placed away by the improving Sam Harmer. Beccles kept the heat on, but, as so often this season, they again came up short. A year in a lower division may give the Bull a chance to regroup and they could well eventually return to this level as a far more potent and effective force in the future.

In true rugby spirit, Beccles refused to be downcast in defeat. The long faces were soon kicked to give touch - giving way to the more congenial atmosphere of fancy dress and boat-races in the clubhouse. It's what the great game is all about and Enfield openly wish the Bulls the very best for the future.

Scoring: Sales, Berry, Long
Conversions: Wade
Penalty: Wade x 4

Mussett Engineering Man of the Match: Marcus Sale

Team
1. Ling
2. Lake
3. Porter
4. Holmes
5. Berry
6. Sutton
7. Starks
8. Rix David
9. Sale
10. Harmer
11. Carbal
12. Wade
13. Long
14. Frost
15. Davey-Durak
16. Rix Danny
17. Izuzquiza
18. Veasey-Lark