Henley Hawks 22 Rosslyn Park 47

Tries from James Strong, Will Collier and Amo Tauialo along with six penalty kicks converted by Dylan Pugh compounded the misery for the Hawks as Park consolidated their strong position in their quest for promotion to the National League One.

On their day Henley are a useful side – this was evidenced three weeks ago when they denied high-flying Ealing a victory – but for long periods they were made to look decidedly ordinary by a rampant Park side.

Rosslyn made their now customary hot start, with Strong and Paul Unseld giving early notice of their pace. But the breakthrough on three minutes came from someone who is not usually renowned for their blistering pace.

The visitors turned over Henley possession 40 metres out and Collier grabbed the ball, saw a yawning gap in front of him and sprinted for the line. The prop ended his surging run with a theatrical dive that certainly won't be winning many marks for artistic merit but Pugh added the conversion to make it 7-0.

A defence that couldn't contend with a prop over 40 metres was never going to contain Strong, but when the winger received the ball wide on the right four minutes later it was his changes of direction as much as his athleticism that left the home defenders so bamboozled that they failed to lay a hand on him.

But if the visitors thought this was going to be a stroll in the park, Henley soon showed what might happen if concentration was allowed to relax even momentarily. For the first time in the match the home side were allowed to keep possession and winger Will Jones got over in the corner to open the Hawks' account . Will Fulton's conversion attempt hit the far post below the crossbar, but four minutes later he was on target with a penalty to make it 8-14 after 16 minutes.

This served only to goad Park into playing some scintillating rugby. With the forwards supplying seemingly endless ball and space, a great move ended just short of the line with the ball just eluding Rob Jewell's outstretched fingers.

Henley were forced to concede penalties and Pugh whacked one to the corner while the home defence did well to resist an endless succession of forward surges. When the ball was finally worked wide to Strong they had no answer and the ever-reliable Pugh converted to increase their lead.

It was one way traffic and after another massive siege on the Henley line saw Collier eventually get over for his second try after 36 minutes.

Park immediately returned for seconds, this time Tauialo forcing his way over and Pugh maintained a 100% kicking record to make it 35-8 at the interval.

The visitors started the second half brightly and a good run by Unseld got close to the line but Jonny Barrett, playing on, swathed in bandages under his scrum cap after a nasty cut to his head, couldn't quite take the pass.

On the other wing Strong hacked on for what would have been his hat trick try but was penalised for a knock on. Park seemed to lose focus for a period but Henley just couldn't muster the required quality to take advantage of this lull in play.

The game suddenly burst into life as a sudden break saw Henley almost score. They followed up with a good move from the scrum and a well-worked overlap saw scrum half Jack Shaylor get over. Fulton converted to make it a more respectable 15-35 with 15 minutes remaining.

Five minutes later lock Steve Green took advantage of some lacklustre defending to get over for another well-taken try and all of a sudden Park had a game on their hands.

The home support was suddenly galvanised: another try would have brought the unlikeliest four-try bonus point, and a conversion could have meant a further point for losing by seven or less. Park, however, had other ideas and simply went up through the gears.

Unseld had another good run before Strong galloped away up the right and Pugh's conversion made it 42-22. Then in the dying moments another break by the flying winger brought his fourth try before the referee ended the onslaught and blew the whistle at 47-22.

Park: Simmons; Strong, Sweeney, Jewell, Unseld; Pugh; Barr; Huggett, Tauialo, Collier; Quigley, Pape: M Jones (Underwood, Anayi), Barratt (Underwood, blood), Lock.

Subs not used: Daw, O’Driscoll, Pugh.

Park scorers: Strong (4T), Collier (2T), Tauialo (T), Pugh (6C).