Rosslyn Park swept to the top of National One with an imperious second half performance in which they produced five unanswered tries to run out 43-17 winners over Cambridge.

That did not look a likely outcome when Cambridge – with the wind at their backs – were the better side in the first half and deservedly held a 17-10 lead at the interval.

But Park roared back to claim the win and move from third to first ahead of their top-of-the-table clash with the now second-placed team Jersey next Saturday.

Cambridge could not have got off to a better start. Kicking off, they won the ball and ran at Park, who were caught flat footed, and when centre Toby Berridge received the ball he bounced off a defender before touching down by the posts with only seconds on the clock. Fly half Elliott Bale added a conversion for 7-0.

Stung, Park came straight back and soon levelled the scores with a good try. Scrum half Graham Barr picked out centre Dom Shabbo, who made a great run and released winger Steve Parsons to plunge over. Ross Laidlaw’s kick levelled the scores.

If Park’s moves looked marginally sharper than did their opponents’, then it was Cambridge who enjoyed an edge in territory and possession. When Park conceded a penalty on 15 minutes Bale was on hand to kick his side to a 10-7 lead.

Park were forced to do more defending than they had bargained for, but did it well. Whenever they broke out they looked dangerous and forced Cambridge to concede a penalty inside their own 22. Laidlaw kicked to touch to set up the catch and drive, which the visitors could only stop illegally to set up a repeat. This time the normally dependable Park lineout failed to secure their own ball and, instead of taking the lead, were again forced to defend.

Park’s defence was again first rate, but when Nev Edwards tried to set up a counter-attack with a neat chip the ball was held up on the wind and very nearly set up an interception try. This time Cambridge refused to give up their position on the Park line and eventually after much huffing and puffing prop Tom Fidler was bundled over for a try, Bale converting for 17-7 on 23 minutes.

Just as it looked as if Cambridge would take a 10-point lead into the second half, Park had an attacking line-out in the visitors’ 22. Cambridge pulled down the catcher to concede a penalty out wide which, into a strong wind, would have taxed any kicker. Laidlaw made it look routine.

Park emerged from the dressing room after the interval to play 40 minutes of sublime attacking rugby to which the visitors, hard as they tried, had no real reply.

In the second minute of the half, Edwards was in a great position to receive the ball and dive in full length under the posts to allow Laidlaw to convert and equalise.

Six minutes later another super passing movement saw Parsons on the receiving end to sprint around the outside of the defence for Laidlaw to add a conversion to put his side ahead for the first time.

Only three minutes to wait for a sensational individual try by Miles Mantella, who picked the ball up in midfield, saw an angle and simply flew to touch down under the posts to bring the 4-try bonus and give Laidlaw an easy kick to stretch the lead.

With the forwards now providing a seemingly endless supply of quality ball, Park really turned on the style with great movement and invention in the backs – even the odd flip-behind-the-back pass came off. This was worth a tenner of anyone’s money, and they hadn’t finished yet.

Steve Parsons was released again for a super gallop up the right. He could not quite make it over, but Park retained possession moving the ball along the line for skipper Mark Lock to almost force his way in.

The visiting defence was very good indeed, but they had no answer left when again the ball was recycled and quickly returned along the line to the right where centre Dom Shabbo went over.

Probably the best “try” was a superb move that sent in Mantella, but the referee brought play back for an earlier forward pass to earn some good-natured booing from the crowd.

It was only reasonable that the forwards should try to get in on the act. Driving towards the line, Cambridge did well to hold them up, but when the ball was released replacement hooker Ben Gotting was on hand to force himself over to bring a deserved one for the “fat boys” and a final score of 43-17.

What was most impressive was that Cambridge showed in the first period that they were a very good side. However, Park cannot rest on their laurels with next week's trip to the Channel Islands, where Jersey have have only been defeated once since March 2009 and whose win over Ealing was their 12th in succession. It’s tough at the top.

Park: Edwards; Parsons (Gower), Shabbo, Robinson, Mantella; Laidlaw; Barr (Baxter): Ovens, Richmond (Gotting), Ward (Huggett); Lloyd-Jones, Anderson; Trayfoot, Barrett (Campbell), Lock.

Park scorers: Parsons (2T), Edwards (T), Mantella (T), Shabbo (T), Gotting (T), Laidlaw (P, 5C)