Enfield and Haringey finished seventh in the British Athletics League match at Copthall following an unusually high number of absences.

In the second league match of the season on Saturday, the team were badly hit by several injuries, along with athletes missing due to competitions elsewhere.

Four of the club’s top sprinters were competing in the English Schools' Championship, while another athlete was selected for the World Youth Games in France which took place on the same day.

The team finished in seventh place, and also hold the number seven spot in the Premier Athletic League, which relegates two clubs after the four matches.

Team manager Malcolm Blackmore declared himself pleased at the performances of the majority of the team who competed.

Blackmore had particular praise for sprinter Enrico Tawiah-Kwaben, hurdler Zac Sucede and thrower Joe Bloomfield for competining in three events.

In the field events, Rhys Searls won the pole vault with a respectable vault of 5.02m, while Luke Thomas returned from injury to record 7.30m in the long jump.

On the track, there were two personal bests as Jon Lowdowsk posted a time of 52.9 in the 400m hurdles, while Ben Nagy hit new heights with a time of 3.50.3 sec in the 1500m.

Elsewhere, Shaun Collins recorded 1.53.9 in the B string 800m and won the B string 3000m with a time of 8.22.5.

The next match in the series takes place in Manchester on Saturday, August 13.

Match result: 1, Newham & Essex Beagles, 347; 2, City of Manchester, 314; 3, Shaftesbury Barnet, 306; 4, Woodford Green, 281; 5, Birchfield, 274; 6, City of Sheffield, 229; 7, Enfield & Haringey, 217; 8, Cardiff, 212.