NESTLE Rowntree RUFC paid for a poor start to the second half at Ripon 2nds as they were knocked out of the North Yorkshire Trophy.

Trees travelled over the A1 for the first round of the competition looking to continue their unbeaten form in the Yorkshire Merit League northern division against a side from the higher-ranked northern championship, but it wasn't to be as they lost 40-11.

The first half was close, with the York outfit kicking for territory to good effect and taking an 11-7 lead into the interval.

However, they were caught napping in the first 15 minutes of the second period and were hit with a five-try blitz.

The game looked evenly poised from kick-off, with Trees converting an early penalty through Jack Daniels followed 20 minutes later by a trademark Jack Gabbatiss try from close range after Ripon had stopped the forwards just short of the whitewash.

However, from the restart, Ripon surged forward and they hit back with a converted try from a tap penalty after another infringement.

It was then Nestle's turn to charge forward and they were awarded a penalty which Daniels converted for their 11-7 half-time lead.

However, on the resumption, Ripon spun the ball wide at every opportunity and they scored five quickfire tries as they left their visitors chasing shadows, four of the touchdowns being converted.

To their credit, Nestle regrouped and the next 25 minutes were a stalemate with both sides tackling well but Trees' eight-match unbeaten run was at an end.