NESTLE Rowntrees RUFC have struggled to raise a team this season but returned from a six week absence to beat Ossett II in the Yorkshire Merit League Central & North League.

It took only five minutes for second rower John Thomson to open the scoring after a good break from the backs.

Another good break, ten minutes later, saw make-shift centre Grant Cockburn scoring and Jack Daniels converting.

Indiscipline resulted in both teams losing three players to the sin-bin over the course of the game.

Trees lost two in quick succession and subsequently conceded two tries allowing Ossett to reduce the deficit to 12-10.

But once those players had returned to the field, Trees scored two tries in quick succession.

The first was a solo effort from Daniels, who also converted, then hooker Jack Gabbatiss crashed over to make it 24-10 at the break.

Trees looked equipped to score far more in the second half but a combination of good defending from Ossett and lack of sharpness after the long lay off played a part.

Trees could only muster three more converted tries - a pair from No.8 Ian Henderson and the other from Thomson to complete a 45-10 victory.

They now have another three weeks without a game due to the holiday period.