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Gareth Baxter in action for Cambridge against Rosslyn Park. Picture: Chris Fell

Noah Sloot feels that Cambridge achieved their first step in the goal of making Volac Park a fortress after a 24-20 win over Rosslyn Park in National League One.

It was an impressive display from the hosts to upset Park, who were league leaders going into the fixture.

Cambridge’s struggles to pick up a win on their home turf have been well-known, so in some regards it may have appeared that they had little to lose against the side from south west London.

If that was the case, then it certainly did not show as they picked up where they left off in the 34-5 victory over Canterbury.

It was a superb first-half display that really did the damage, which started with Matt Hema bouncing off two tackles to touch down after three minutes.

Ben Penfold’s conversion and a penalty made it 10-0 and then, in the 16th minute, Hema kicked on a loose ball twice, sealed possession and then off-loaded to a supporting Lawrence Rayner to race clear from halfway.

Greg Lound landed two penalties for Rosslyn Park, but then Joey Green scooped up a low pass and showed great strength to touch down in the 33rd minute, with Penfold’s conversion making it 24-6 at half time.

Rosslyn Park upped their intensity and tempo after the break, but Cambridge’s defensive energy was high to keep them at bay for long periods.

They did get through thanks to Henry Cheeseman and Dan Laventure, but Cambridge held on for a deserved win, much to the delight of Sloot.

“We had a goal and came with a mindset after last week to create a fortress, so to speak,” said the open-side flanker, who was named the sponsors’ man of the match.

“We brought that attitude and had to change that perception, which was essentially the message through the week.

“We came out and the first-half was brilliant. The talk in the changing room was that they would come out differently in the second half and that we would have to adapt.

“To an extent, we did. We adapted and held it. It was a bit of a tougher half but it was that momentum that we need to hold.

“The losing side has got to come out harder, and it is up to the one in front to match it.

“We pressured them, and although we had limited ball in their half, our defence stuck at it with big hits.”

He added: “The last five to 10 minutes were a bit nail-biting as they were only four behind so we had to really defend.

“It was tense but we stuck at it and did not drop that energy.”