Rosslyn Park flanker Harry Rowland reckons they need to tighten up their defence to stay in the top half of National League One.

Park have enjoyed a fine start to the season with six wins from seven, placing them third in the table, but they have conceded 164 points – the worst tally in the top four.

Alex Codling’s men collected their sixth try bonus point from Saturday’s 49-26 victory over Wharfedale, with tries from Hugo Ellis (two), Adam Field (two), Kiba Richards and Jamie Harries, plus seven Tom Whelan conversions and a penalty try.

They have secured a bonus point in every game this season, and Rowland believes these are significant, even if they are not all winning ones.

He said: “It is important to pick up bonus points in attack and in defence to stay in touch and get clear of other teams.

“It is good to be able to push for the fourth try when we are winning, but remember to stay focused on protecting our try line.

“We are attacking really well and deserve to collect the bonus points, but we need to tighten our defence to stop other teams picking up the extra points against us.”

With the attacking part of Park’s game going well, the focus has been on defence – a need highlighted by allowing Wharfedale, struggling at the wrong end of the table, to pick up a losing point.

Rowland said: “We have been targeting our defence in training and it is starting to improve, but it is part of the game that needs plenty of work each week.”

Park travel to 14th-placed Cinderford, who have only won once so far this season, on Saturday.

Rowland said: “Cinderford will be a hard place to go and win, and it will be a good chance to test our defence.

“We won there last year but it was a tough, low-scoring game so we will be expecting the same this weekend.”