YORK RI RUFC Ladies remain within touching distance of the top of North East One after a 28-19 win at home to Ashfield.

The game started with Ashfield camped in the hosts’ 22. RI's back line held strong but, despite repeated tackling, the defence was eventually breached, and the try converted.

RI upped the intensity, with good runs being made by the forwards. A strong break from Rebecca Foster resulted in an offload to Rachel Demoreas and a try under the posts, converted by Kirsty Parr.

The home side’s second came directly from the kick off, centre Charlotte Warriner running the length of the pitch and giving RI a seven-point lead going into half-time.

Ashfield came out fighting in the second half and levelled matter through a converted try.

The second period was one for the forwards, as the wind made the ball unpredictable, resulting in several knock-ons and scrums that RI had the better of.

A good run from Fiona Parr set up Lauren van Buuren for a try that Kirsty Parr converted.

Ashfield responded immediately with a try of their own, but could not kick the goal.

Looking to extend their slim lead, RI kept pushing in the visitors’ 22 and got their reward through scrum half Jess Horgan’s converted try in the last action of the game.