YORK RI Ladies started their season in Women's National Challenge North East One with a 31-5 win over Littleborough Ladies.

Littleborough provided tough opposition for a team fielding several new personnel plus others playing out of position.

But RI ultimately did well, their experience telling as they got a bonus point for scoring five tries.

Neither side made headway in the opening quarter, multiple errors leading to repeated scrums, where RI had the upper hand.

But, after some strong forward work, RI shipped the ball out to the back line where full-back Rachel Demoraes drew in the defence and popped the ball to winger Julia Atwater, who scored her first try for the club. Kirsty Parr added her first of three conversions.

The try seemed to settle RI and, after a powerful run, centre Vicki Woodgate offloaded to flanker Charlie Freeman, who cut back inside to score under the posts.

Littleborough, aided by multiple penalties, kept pushing but RI's defence stood strong, with Demoraes putting in try-saving tackles time after time.

Early in the second half, RI captain Gemma Webster suffered a nasty cut to the head so Charlotte Warriner replaced her at fly-half - and she soon scored twice to secure the win.

Firstly, the forwards kept the ball safe before scrum-half Jess Horgan shipped it to Warriner, who glided through to score.

Then, after RI gained clean lineout ball through Nicola Sipika, Warriner fooled the defence again and went over for her second.

As RI tired, more penalties were conceded and Littleborough crossed from close range.

But, next time they were under pressure, RI turned over a scrum on their own 10-metre line, Parr kicked the ball downfield, and Demoraes chased and hacked on to the other end to score the last try.

RI next pay Halifax at home on September 24.