Enfield Ignatians fell short again as they failed to even get on the scoresheet in a 71-0 pummelling by Harpenden on Saturday.

The unbeaten league leaders were always going to provide a stern test but steamrollered their visitors, who are now without a win since the opening day of the season.

Only winless Harrow and Hammersmith - the former proving Ignatians’ solitary win so far - are keeping the club away from the trap door at the bottom of the division, and their already fragile confidence took another dent in Hertfordshire last weekend.

The visitors found themselves some 36-0 down at the break with Harpenden firing on all cylinders throughout.

But they did improve for a brief period after half-time, only to move tentatively with their fragile self-belief showing, and the hosts’ backline also seemingly impenetrable at times.

Captain Jake Bates, despite the heavy scoreline, was still keen to focus on the positives come the full-time whistle, and said he had noticed improvements in his side’s game.

He said: “Although it wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard, we delivered a better performance in many ways than the previous week against HAC.

“The back row certainly put in a big shift.  “Man of the match Wes Warren carried well and their were also good displays from Frank Antwi and Jamie Newport who put in some good tackles.”

The hosts have now won all five of their games in the league so far, picking up bonus points in each of their games and running in a stunning 292 points, while conceding 87 - the highest and lowest in the division respectively.

Ignatians, on the other hand, have shipped some 258 points, the worst tally in the league by some margin, but they have secured three bonus points for their try-scoring, racking up 106 points, only 26 behind fifth-placed Belsize Park.

Bates added: “Harpenden are the best side I have played against at this level.  “They have recruited well during the summer and they’ve been clocking up big scores against other sides in the division.

“We have a week off but we are crucially aware of the crucial importance of the next two league games. Going away to Hammersmith and Fulham and home to Tabard, will be very big games for us.”

Ignatians’ trip to Hammersmith, who are bottom of the table on points difference, is this Saturday.