Cambridge pulled off a last-gasp victory in a pulsating game at Volac Park as Matt Edison raced through on to a peach of a pass from Jarrod Taylor for a late, late winner.

Bob Crooks’ team, back to their best in patches, found themselves 32-29 down with ten minutes left, with only themselves to blame, but the former US Eagles U21 skipper broke Park hearts in a storming finish.

The Blood and Sand found themselves behind after 3 minutes as Miles Mantella was put in at the corner on the outside by a slick passing move creating the overlap for the full back to finish. Ed Lewis-Pratt converted from the touchline.

Then, a fabulous break by debutant fly half Elliot Bale, who offloaded inside to the marauding Gareth McComb, saw home scrum half Danny Hunter dive over from the resulting breakdown. Tom Wheatcroft added the extras against the wind.

From the kick-off, Park pressed the Cambridge line and another miss-match gave John Rudd a simple walk over to dot down, but their third try came against the run of play as the hosts strove to get back on terms.

Cambridge hassled and harried and tried to get their backs away, but Jaco du Toit’s inside pass ricocheted off the chest of Mike Ayrton into the grateful hands of Domonic Shabbo.

The centre’s interception from half-way inside his own half saw him win a foot-race with the luckless du Toit to touch down in the corner. Robinson’s conversion cannoned off the far post.

Six minutes later, the ubiquitous Darren Fox crashed over following more quick hands from Hunter and Bale.

Shortly thereafter, the second penalty try in a week gave Wheatcroft his third conversion of the afternoon. Park’s forwards caved calamitously and continuously under pressure from the Blood and Sand pack, Lewis-Pratt was sin-binned, and referee Philip Davies pointed to the posts.

The second period saw Park resurgent, as Cambridge’s errors, forced and unforced, mounted. Prop Tom Fidler had extended the home team’s lead, but Park fought back.

Pressure led to a 10 metre Lewis-Pratt penalty, cancelled out by a boomer from the excellent Bale from close to half-way.

Scores from Nathan Morris and another from Mantella, who also had a fine game, had Park ahead with 10 minutes to go.

With time running out, Cambridge were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which would have tied the match. Surprisingly, they went for the corner and the line-out, potentially suicidal with 4 minutes left and the chance of a kick-off return.

Somehow, the ball was turned over, and Bale broke, fed Taylor and Edison left the visitors with the scant consolation of 2 bonus points.

Crooks was concerned afterwards about some slack defending, but pleased with the win.

“We made some really poor decisions at the end there – at 32-29 we should have kicked the goal. It’s like we want to make it hard for ourselves. I thought we didn’t get to grips with the second half at all, and we lost Bryn Jenkins early doors, and Tom Wheatcroft as well, but we always seem to make it difficult here.”

“The first half, they just couldn’t handle our attack. It was never going to be an 80 minute performance, but I’m happier. But we have to tighten up our defence.”