Rosslyn Park head coach Alex Codling says there will only be one winner of National League One, and it will not be Rosslyn Park.

Codling is convinced that full-time outfit Ealing Trailfinders, relegated from the Championship last season, but already with three wins out of three and a full quota of bonus points this time round, will finish top of the table.

Undeterred, the former England international wants his side to retain their crown as the best semi-professional team in the country.

Park finished runners up to full-time Doncaster Knights last season, but following a 22-17 defeat to Fylde last weekend, it will prove a difficult feat to match.

“There is no question that Ealing will win the league,” Codling said.

“When you’re facing a side that is full-time, it makes life so much more difficult.

“We’re looking to be the best semi-professional side in the country, but to achieve that will be incredibly hard and there are 15 other clubs vying for that position.”

He added: “But there is a buzz around the club and we are playing excellent rugby, we had 1,300 watch us beat Blackheath, which is great.”

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Head coach Alex Codling

Defeat to Fylde saw Park drop to sixth in the table, four points off the top.

Codling said: “We had control of the game for long periods, but we turned over possession in their third too many times.

“We got a bonus point, but we could have had more.”

There were further bonuses with the return from injury of skipper Hugo Ellis and the first team debut of 18-year-old former mini and junior player Kieran Treadwell in the second row.

Park travel to Loughborough Students on Saturday and Codling is looking for an immediate response.

He said. “We need a win. They will be a tough side and although they have not won yet, their defeats have been narrow rather than complete hammerings.

“They pushed Ealing all the way on the opening weekend, so we’ll have to be professional and on our game to get the result.”