Rosslyn Park cut Ealing Trailfinders’ lead at the top of National League One to three points after a 36-7 win at Macclesfield.

But it was far from the easy win that the final score suggests, with bottom of the table Macclesfield showing great spirit and constantly making life difficult for Park.

Park served notice on Macclesfield that they were in for a long afternoon when reducing their pack to shreds at the first scrum.

The penalty, and a subsequent one, was hammered to touch by Whelan as the visitors exerted immense pressure.

Full-back Nev Edwards nearly got over for a try but Macclesfield defended with great skill and spirit and managed to clear to half way.

Wandsworth Times:

Almost: Nev Edwards came closest to opening the scoreline at Macclesfield

Macclesfield showed they were not just making up the numbers with a good concerted assault on the Park line. But they were undone when Park broke out, won a penalty, kicked to touch, and camped on the home line.

The inevitable try came, on 13 minutes, when winger Charles Broughton found lock Will Bowley in enough space that the try was a formality. The strong wind defeated Whelan’s conversion attempt.

Park tried to kick on but, though clearly the better side, defences were well on top. The visitors suffered a massive blow on 30 minutes when fly-half Tom Whelan limped off to be replaced from the bench by centre Kiba Richards, leaving his team without a specialist kicker.

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Richards soon came close to scoring after a good scrum by Park. Macclesfield were beginning to infringe in order to stop the visitors, and the referee issued a stern warning to their skipper. The resulting penalty was aimed for touch in the corner, but went over the dead ball line instead.

Park came back through an incisive run by Richards, which led to a try by Dante Mama a minute before the interval, which he attempted to kick himself but without success.

Wandsworth Times:

Try-man: Dante Mama was on the scoresheet for Rosslyn Park

So Park turned round with a 10-0 advantage to show for a difficult half.

The visitors tore into Macclesfield after the interval but a good attack foundered when they failed to control the ball.

Jack Gash came off the bench after only a minute and made an immediate impact, but the real game-changer came when the referee made good his earlier warning and sent Blues winger Dean Williams to the bin for a professional foul, to be followed shortly by Greg Norton for another one, still only four minutes into the half.

Macclefield defended bravely, assisted by some errors as Park sought to press home their advantage.

Eventually it was a great run by Edwards, seemingly beating just about every defender, before handing on to Gash to score under the posts.

Broughton assumed kicking duties to convert for 17-0 on 52 minutes.

With the home side back at full-strength, but tiring, Park put the match beyond doubt around the hour mark with two tries in as many minutes.

After a period under the cosh, Macclesfield failed to control the ball under pressure at the back of their scrum and flanker Mike McFarlane pounced instantly to touch down the bonus point try, converted by Broughton.

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On the charge: Mark Ireland

A great break by Richards perished when he could not get the ball away, but England U20 prop Alex Lundberg soon delivered the goods, converted by Broughton for 31-0.

Macclesfield to their great credit simply refused to just lie down and launched an all out attack.

Park appeared to have defended successfully until, following a scrum, home winger Matthew King sneaked a try in the corner and fly half Tom Eaton nailed a quite brilliant conversion for 31-7.

The home side returned to the attack as the match went into added time, but the fates were unkind to them. Gash got his hands on the ball, sprinted up-field and the ball passed through several pairs of hands before winger Dave Vincent raced in to score for 36-7.

Park deserved the bonus point win that takes them four points clear of Fylde, in second place. But Macclesfield, still searching for their first league point, were a lot better than the final tally suggests.

Park: Edwards; Broughton, Mama, Ireland, Vincent; Whelan; Hoadley; Lundberg, Bellamy, McKenzie; Bowley, Boyle; McFarlane, Broadbent, Ellis.

Subs: Strachan, Saunders, Baldwin, Gash, Richards