There was double cause for celebration for Enfield Ignatians after they continued their near four-month unbeaten league run by gaining revenge over Old Merchant Taylors’ with a 29-14 victory at Donkey Lane.

The London Three North-West encounter also doubled up as a Middlesex Bowl quarter-final in a winner takes all contest.

OMTs were the last side to beat Ignatians in the league in September and were coming off a win against Finsbury Park, but they were continuously put through the mill by a fired-up home pack.

Ignatians were in front as early as the second minute when man of the match Jonathan Hamilton went over from a lineout drive.

Ignatians doubled their lead on the 14th minute when they ran a penalty, stretching the defence in both directions before hooker Ben Mills forced his way over.

Paul Duke again converted but Ignatians failed to capitalise after that and Sam Isaacs reduced the deficit.

Enfield responded late in the half though, with George Cox going over following good work from Hamilton, Duke and Michael Hall.

Smartly out of the blocks in the second half, Ignatians wrapped up the bonus-point fourth try after successfully executing a training ground move which saw captain Jake Bates outflank the defence.

Although outgunned up front, the OMT backs proved a handful and Naca Kinikinilau scored after tearing straight through the heart of the defence.

However, the home side’s defence held firm in the face of further pressure before Enfield were able to finish the game on the offensive, aided by their opponents suffering two yellow cards.

They should have done better from a couple of catch and lineout drives, but they made the game safe in the dying throes when Duke rifled over a penalty.

Head coach Shane Manning said of the second-placed side in the league: “Although the game got a bit scrappy, there were lots of good things although we didn’t finish off all our chances.

“We ran some good lines and defended well, and particularly for a 20 minute spell in the second-half, but we just need to be a little more relaxed when we get into good positions.”

Ignatians continue their promotion push away to Finchley on Saturday.