Belsize Park’s first-team coach James Lindsay feels Saturday’s commanding victory over Enfield Ignatians was the “perfect preparation” as his side gears up for successive clashes with their two primary title rivals.

Jeremy Burton touched down three times and Ryan Forrester also crossed the line twice as Belsize scored seven tries in a 52-29 away win.

BP, who won promotion to London Division Two North West this year, have now won seven of their eight league games and have drawn the other, leaving them as the only unbeaten team in London and just one point off the top of the table.

Two sides still lie above Belsize in a tight title fight – leaders Old Haberdashers and local rivals Hampstead – but that could all change as Lindsay’s side gear up to face both sides in successive matches, starting with a home game against Old Haberdashers in Regent’s Park this Saturday.

“These are the types of games that we would have historically come into with the wrong frame of mind when looking at Enfield’s position in the league (ninth),” Lindsay told Ham&High Sport.

“However, considering their impressive number of bonus points from close losses and high-scoring games, the boys knew they would have to come out firing in the first half to avoid a similar situation – and they did. It was great to see the free-flowing rugby that we grew accustomed to last year.

“The players recognised that they had a lot left in the tank after this game and a few gears to go through still, so it was perfect preparation for the two biggest games of the season ahead.

“If we continue to show this type of attacking display and combine it with our impressive defensive game I have no doubt that we will come out on top at the turn of the year, well-placed for the fight for promotion.”

Burton kicked Belsize into an early lead against Enfield on Saturday and then scored the opening try after a break from Jake Webster.

The hosts hit back with a penalty of their own, but BP scored four first-half tries, with Forrester and Burton both going over twice – the latter completing a first-half hat-trick that gave his side a 38-8 half-time lead.

The second half was less one-sided and Enfield’s speedy winger took advantage of some poor tackling to score a treble of his own, but Eric Trautenmiller and Jack Marples also got over the whitewash for Belsize, who triumphed by 23 points in the end.