MUCH-DEPLETED Nestle Rowntree RUFC put in another fantastic performance but it was quite enough for victory against a well-organised West Park Leeds second XV.

Trees travelled west with only a bare 15 players for this Yorkshire Central & North Merit League encounter after picking up a plethora of injuries in recent games.

They led in the first half but West Park hit back to equalise before the interval and the visitors’ lack of interchanges probably took its toll as the hosts went on to win 26-14.

Nestle remain second in the table behind Moortown second XV, with West Park closing in in third.

From the kick off Trees charged forward and after five minutes hooker Jack Gabbatiss crashed over for Jack Daniels to convert.

Trees continued to enjoy most of the play but they could not add to their score and paid dearly when West Park got the ball out to their left wing who was in space to run behind the posts for an equalising try.

Nestle again got on top and after 25 minutes were finally rewarded when number eight Ian Henderson marked his return from injury to score, Daniels against converting.

But West Park hit back with a similar try to the first to level things up at the break.

The second half saw West take the lead with a well-worked try and conversion and Trees, although playing well, began to tire. With ten minutes to go, the hosts scored again out wide.

Trees thereafter tackled their hearts out to hold West at bay but they were unable to hit back at the other end.

With no game until December, they will hope a few of the injured players will have time to recover.