Barking came close to surrendering their unbeaten start to the season after being pushed all the way by Rosslyn Park at Goresbrook. Park led from the

moment Ross Laidlaw struck a 10th- minute penalty until Nick Fraser’s 65th- minute try, converted by Harry Owens, saw Barking complete a remarkable

second- half recovery.

Barking’s failure to secure an eighth try bonus point of the season saw their lead at the top of the table cut to six points because second- placed Cambridge

cashed in to win a thrilling contest against Macclesfield, 45-37, scoring seven tries in the process.

London Scottish are just one further point back in third after winning 21-15 at Redruth. Under fierce pressure in the final quarter, the Exiles conceded three

yellow cards and a penalty try, but managed to hang on for their 12th win of the campaign.

Launceston continue to prop up the National One table, and are now 15 points adrift of safety, after an 850- mile round trip to Tynedale proved fruitless.

However Cinderford gave their survival bid a shot in the arm with a 26-0 win over Coventry, their first success since October. The Gloucestershire side are

now just four points behind Otley, who moved out of the drop zone after a 64th- minute penalty from Christian Georgiou, the only points of the second- half,

handed them an 18-17 win over Blackheath at Cross Green. Elsewhere, Sedgley Park beat Blaydon 17-0 and Wharfedale achieved the league double over

Stourbridge with a 30-15 success at Stourton Park.