YORK RI RUFC scored nine times and secured a try bonus point as they claimed a huge 61-10 win over Yorkshire Four bottom side Sheffield Oaks.

The hosts were able to field their strongest side so far this season, boosted by key players returning from injury, and the win, amid the wet and blustery conditions caused by Storm Brian, eased some of the pressure caused by their slow start to the campaign.

Sheffield put in a gritty performance and were brave in defence but, in the end, the home side proved far too much for them.

A nervy RI took time to settle into the game, making errors in the wet conditions, and they uncharacteristically struggled against a strong Sheffield scrum, but they opened the scoring through new signing Owain Whittaker.

Sheffield equalised minutes later, but tries from Francky Rossi and Chris Jones, after a trademark jinking break, gave RI a 21-5 half-time lead, fly-half Baptiste Briu converting all three touchdowns.

The second half opened with a break in the winds and, as the home side found their rhythm, a flurry of tries.

The returning Tim Lewis got a brace, Rob Joy squeezed into the corner to touch down and number eight Dan Coates battered his way through the defence before running 40 yards to the whitewash.

Jones picked up his second and Yohan Barthelemy scored between the posts, before Sheffield notched a late unconverted consolation try.

Briu’s seven conversions and improved back-line performance earned him man of the match.

Meanwhile, Nestle Rowntree’s Yorkshire Merit League match against Harrogate 3rds was forfeited by the Rudding Lane club. Trees were given a 25-0 win but only four points.