ENFIELD GRAMMAR’s deadly finishing was much in evidence as they lorded the inaugural John Wells Cup against local rivals St Ignatius College 24-0 at Donkey Lane on February 6.

The cup commemorates the late and inspirational Enfield Ignatians’ president, John Wells, and afterwards his two sons, Jon and Jeremy, presented the trophy to the Grammar captain Robert Quinlan in the Enfield Ignatians clubhouse,

Nominated as his side’s Man of the Match, Quinlan, captaining his side from fullback, glowed inwardly with satisfaction in more ways than one after claiming two of his side’s four tries.

However, it was Jamie Forrester that put Grammar on the front foot after rounding off a period of forward pressure by squeezing in at the right corner.

St Ignatius also played their part in this fixture between two of the borough’s top rugby schools, and although they had the heavier pack, and an excellent talisman in Adrian Arthur, they repeatedly failed to make the most of their pressure.

The college had two good chances to open their account, and, on one occasion, they were held up on the Grammar line.

Frustrated by Grammar’s excellent defensive qualities, St Ignatius also failed to get to grips with their rivals’ superior firepower out wide.

Grammar were very much the cobras in the game, and twice, in the first-half, the deadly sting of the counterattack was evident, as Quinlan rounded off two tries with aplomb as his side secured a 17-0 half-time lead.

The second-half mirrored the first period as St Ignatius engaged all out siege mode. Again, the likes of Arthur, and centre Florez, often made the first indentation. But, not for the first time, the blue and golds failed to capitalise.

Instead, the more streetwise Grammar absorbed the pressure and kept the best until last, as a sweeping move, in which the ball travelled through several pairs of hands, led to Matt Jones claiming a spectacular breakaway score which he also converted.

The Derby fixture between the two schools also involved other age groups, and Grammar also won the respective year seven and eight fixtures 58-7 and 15-5.

However, St Ignatius did rule the roost in the year ten age group 24-5.