Shane Manning called on Enfield Ignatians to deliver a performance and his side responded in spades by pushing unbeaten London Two North-West leaders Belsize Park all the way in a 19-3 defeat at the Regent’s Park sports hub.

Having scored 41 tries in nine previous league games, Belsize Park were firm favourites going into Saturday's game but, in the face of a spirited defensive effort by the visitors, their progress stalled.

Unfazed by the hosts’ reputation, Ignatians were impressive spoilers and they certainly did a number on the Park lineout by making half-a-dozen key steals.

The visitors also hunted ferociously at the breakdown and upped the pressure in the set scrums where loosehead prop and man-of-the-match Dom Nott was in fine form.

The home side were denied the quick ball they craved and, despite having their elements in their favour, they were repeatedly driven back behind the gain line.

It took until the 39th minute for Park to make their first breakthrough as they boldly ran a penalty move close to the Ignatians line.

The gamble paid off as, with the visitors deemed guilty of a high tackle, the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.

Ignatians responded positively and ended the half camped close to the opposition line after winning a succession of penalties.

Despite much huff and puff in the form of a couple of driving mauls, and three five-metre scrums, Enfield’s lack of an attacking cutting edge was manifest as the Belsize defence held firm.

Player-coach Manning urged his side to farm the elements in the second half by using their kicking to game to bottle Belsize up in the corners.

However, the visitors immediately found themselves on the back foot and they did well to keep their line intact in the opening minutes.

Eventually, Ignatians lifted the siege, but just when they seemed to have secured a foothold deep in opposition territory, the seemingly hemmed-in hosts broke their shackles and swarmed up-field.

It ended with a supporting backrower running in from some way out as the hosts rolled the dice and doubled their lead.

Although living a little dangerously at times, Ignatians continued to use the left boot of Jack Wilson to pepper the corners and set up field position.

They also claimed their only points of the game via a well-taken penalty from Jordan Wilson, whose successful angled attempt was anything but straightforward.

Belsize Park finally made the game safe in the 76th minute when they used the platform of a driving maul to engineer their third and final try by bursting over from close range.