NESTLE Rowntree RUFC posted an impressed 50-12 home friendly win over Knaresborough 2nd XV - almost a quarter of whose team was composed of Trees' players.

The game was a little disjointed owing to Nestle's six weeks without a fixture, but both sides made the best of the run-out.

Returing prop Phil Thompson notched Trees' first try after 20 minutes, crossing out wide after receiving a cheeky offering from hooker Jack Gabbatiss from a lineout on Knaresborough's five metres.

Fred Hudson, playing for the visitors, looked to level matters with a 50-metre escape, but had a hard time braking and it left the score at 5-0.

Tom Eaton responded with a run of his own, which finished with a score near the posts and a Jack Daniels conversion.

Number eight Ian Henderson then crashed through for Daniels to convert, before Knaresborough got themselves on the scoresheet on the stroke of half-time through Trees' Greg Neill.

After swapping a few players around, the hosts put together some good phases in the second period, and were rewarded by a try from Neill, now back in red.

Inside-centre Tom Dunmore, the York Lokomotive rugby league player, was then cautioned by the referee for infringements around the rucks and sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes, allowing Knaresborough to capitalise on the man advantage and score their second try of the afternoon.

As Trees concentrated on organising a clean series of phases, they were rewarded with four tries in rapid succession.

There was a second for Thompson, two from Fred Hudson and one for recent acquisition, French full-back Morgan Cames.

Table-toppers Trees return to Yorkshire Merit League northern division action next week with a trip to West Park Leeds 2nd XV.