ENFIELD Ignatians claimed a comfortable 15-5 win over St Albans in their friendly at Donkey Lane.

Ignatians were too strong for their opponents, but will need to raise their game another notch for this Saturday’s friendly against Tabard.

Assistant coach Perran Gill said: “We scored three good tries and it was a good all-round performance, although there still a few areas that need tweaking.”

The win was a fitting tribute to former club secretary Brian Harris, whose funeral took place in Wales 24 hours earlier, and which Ignatians marked by a minute’s silence before the game.

St Albans, kitted in black in order to avoid a colour clash with the hosts, were subjected to a torrid examination as Ignatians looked to stretch their visitors at every turn.

The Enfield side took the lead when, after camping close to the St Albans line, they carved a huge overlap for Solomon Tuipulotu to crash over.

Shaun Quinn then had a try disallowed before Ignatians ran a close-range penalty which hooker Graham Kendrick finished off by forcing his way over.

Kendrick, a prop by trade and now enjoying a new lease of life at hooker, was one of a number of Ignatians players to catch the eye.

But it was scrum-half Andy Roper who stood out.

His understanding with number eight Wes Warren bordered on the telepathic at times, and his distribution, general work rate and choice of options really energised Ignatians’ game.

Ignatians rang the changes in the second half and inevitably lost some of their shape.

Although squandering a number of good chances, which would have been of concern to coach Ali Cook, they did fashion a well-worked try for winger and colt Sam Emery.

Dan Linehan’s counter-attacking surge from full-back started the move, and after Richard Laurence’s deft chip created mayhem in a dithering defence, Emery won the ensuing race for the touchdown.

St Albans, clearly a notch or two below Ignatians in fitness terms, offered only limited resistance, and although Mark Davis claimed a second-half consolation pushover try, it was too little too late.

Ignatians have a final friendly against Tabard on Saturday before their opening league match at Mersea Island on September 13.