The good start to the London Two North-West season has continued for Enfield Ignatians after they beat Hackney 24-19 at Spring Hill on Saturday.

Following their 41-5 thumping of Grasshoppers, Ignatians set their stall out early and a dominant first-half performance yielded tries for captain Jake Bates and flanker Liam Dunne.

Bates added a conversion and a penalty as the blue and golds were deservedly 15-7 in front at the break, although they did lose prop Dom Nott to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.

Beaten twice by Hackney last season, Ignatians had to weather a second-half fightback by the hosts but the kicking prowess of Bates, who landed five of his seven attempts at goal, proved the difference.

Dave Gear, an impressive force at the breakdown, was Ignatians’ man of the match.

Bates said: “It’s probably the best Hackney have played against us and, had it been last season, we probably would have crumbled. It was a good win.”

One of two unbeaten sides in the league, Ignatians sit in second place behind Belsize Park and their next game is away to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday, September 29.