Belsize Park announced their arrival in London Division Two North-West in style on Saturday, securing a commanding victory and a clean sheet in their opening clash.

BP are now playing at their highest ever level following their second step up in the space of three years, but they look right at home already after beating Welwyn 30-0.

Mark Liebling crossed the whitewash twice, and Will Ville also went over the line, while full-back Jeremy Burton kicked 15 points – and although Sam Bennett and Ben Parker were both sin-binned, Welwyn were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage and get on the scorebard.

Belsize’s director of rugby Zach Webb said: “Overall it was a great start to a new campaign. The two yellow cards, a huge negative penalty count and many errors are hopefully just part of blowing off the cobwebs.

“To beat a side like Welwyn by 30 points and to keep a clean sheet are two feats we are very satisfied with. We are already well ahead of where we were this time last season.”

Burton kicked Belsize into the lead and loosehead prop Eric Trautenmiller – the man of the match – then helped to drive Welwyn back at a scrum, allowing centre Jake Webster to put Liebling over in the corner for a converted try.

Burton slotted over another penalty and blindside flanker Will Ville extended the lead, catching the loose ball and sprinting 40 metres for another converted score.

Welwyn then exerted pressure of their own and, although the Belsize pack defended several driving mauls from lineouts on the five-metre line, Sam Bennett was eventually yellow-carded – but the visitors were still unable to break through.

Instead, BP went further ahead early in the second half, with Liebling heading round the outside and scoring in the corner again.

Burton added the conversion and a later penalty to bring up the 30-point mark, and Parker’s trip to the sin-bin did not to harm the hosts as they celebrated their victory.