Rosslyn Park head coach Jan Bonney has demanded more concentration from his players after an extraordinary topsy-turvy performance on Saturday.

Cinderford had come to Park as the leaders of National League One, but they found themselves 24-3 down at the break in the face of some blistering Park attacks.

However, Bonney’s men produced a series of blunders in the second half to trail 29-36 – and only a fight back in the final moments salvaged a 36-36 draw.

The result came on the back of a 29-22 defeat at Ealing Trailfinders, a match Bonney was convinced they would have won but for lapses in concentration.

Bonney said: “It’s difficult to put a finger on what happen against Cinderford, but there was a lack of concentration, some individual errors and silly penalties given away. All those silly things add up, but we should have won comfortably.”

He added: “It was important that we came back at the end. The guys knew we were the better side and that we’re able to score tries.

“But you cannot afford to have lapses of concentration because teams will just cut right through you. Instead of one or two, we had five or six lapses of concentration.

“We should have won at Ealing too – but while we know we’re a good side, knowing it and doing it are two completely different things.”

Park travel to Cambridge this weekend, with Bonney wanting a reaction.
He said: “We need a good win this weekend to get back on track. We’re capable of beating all the teams in our league it is a massively tough league.

“And we are certainly more than capable of beating Cambridge but if we don’t turn up and we don’t perform on the day then they are capable of putting us under a lot of pressure.”

Bonney, who can chose his side from a fully fit squad, added: “It is really about what we do more than anything else.  We have to make sure we put in a performance for 80 minutes rather than 50 minutes.”

Hugo Ellis (two), Matt Heeks, Nev Edwards and Joe Clark got Park’s tries against Cinderford, while Ross Laidlaw added a penalty and four conversions.