Enfield Ignatians extended their unbeaten run to 11 games in London 3 North West with a 40-15 win away at second-bottom Finchley.

A first-half brace from Johnny Dixon coupled with a Liam Horn try had the visitors in front at the break, and although an early try in the second-half closed the gap, Ignatians rallied again and went on to win comfortably through Dave Gear, Jake Bates and Jonathan Hamilton.

The win maintains the pressure on Old Streetonians, who continue to lead the way with an eight-point gap between themselves and the Blue and Golds.

Things did not start the way Enfield would have planned as with just 11 minutes on the clock, Finchley forced themselves into an 8-0 lead when they cashed in on some poor defending for an unconverted try and then added a penalty.

Ignatians steadily found their feet though and they ran in three tries before the break to turn the game around.

Some deft build-up play allowed full-back Dixon to go over after an excellent return pass from Carl Asare-Anderson, and the visitors then fashioned a pushover effort from a maul after Finchley were penalised for a knock-on, with Horn peeling away and bursting over the line.

More ill-discipline from Finchley, this time for foul play, cost them a further try before the break, as quick hands from Dixon allowed him to go over for his second.

The visitors began the second half in as bright a fashion as they had finished the first, but they failed to capitalise on their dominance, allowing Finchley to edge back into the game.

Their centre finished off a good move, and with the conversion nailed as well, they were back to within four points.

Again, though Ignatians produced a good response and they pulled away when Gear intercepted a pass from 30 metres out and ran all the way through.

Their fifth try of the afternoon came when Euan Renny picked up a loose ball and got his side up-field, and the ball was eventually recycled for Bates to go over.

Hamilton then finished things off late on, picking up at the base of a 5m scrum and darting over the line.

On the win, head coach Shane Manning said: “Obviously it was good to secure the bonus-point win, which was what we set out do, but we also scored some good tries, and our first effort was particularly pleasing.

“Although, defensively speaking, it wasn’t our best effort, but it was good to see the players run some [good] lines and doing different things, which is what we want.”

Next up for Ignatians is a home game against Finsbury Park this Saturday.