YORK RI RUFC Ladies maintained their challenge at the top of North East One with a 77-0 thrashing of second-bottom Doncaster.

The 13-try salvo ensured a good start to 2018 and kept RI hot on the heels of leaders Harrogate ahead of their meeting next week, although next week's hosts have a four-point advantage and a game in hand at the summit.

At the other end of the table, it signalled Doncaster's sixth defeat from six games this term, and the second against RI, who narrowly won 12-7 in South Yorkshire last October.

On home turf, however, it was clear from early on that RI had the upper hand in the contest, with great drives at the scrum and the forwards dominating at the breakdown - and the scoresheet.

Tight-head prop Kirsty Parr, second row Kat Reed and number eight Lauren Van Buuren all crossed for the hosts to give them a good early footing in the game.

Spotting the visiting defence was lined up quite compactly, RI shipped the ball out wide, and the backs were able to run riot.

Ellie Simons scored her first two tries for RI, while top scorer Charlotte Warriner bagged a hat-trick as she weaved her way through a defence that had no answer to her attacking play.

Despite the scoreline, Doncaster continued to put up a fight, but were frequently overwhelmed by RI as the defence pressed and forced the turnover. On one occasion, Vicki Fraser made an interception as the visitors were passing deep inside their own 22 and scored under the posts.

Van Buuren scored two more tries, to take her personal tally to three, and wingers Julia Atwater and Shannon Little also added scores.

With the team the dominant force in possession, Rachel Demoraes had little to do at full back, and she could have gotten on the scoresheet, but was pulled up for a forward pass as she juggled with the ball on her run to the try line.

RI's discipline was also much-improved, with only two penalties conceded, and they will feel they have good foundations for their table-top clash next Sunday, January 28.