NESTLE Rowntree RUFC's 13-match unbeaten record in the Yorkshire Northern Merit League ended with a 33-7 defeat in the mud at second-placed Moortown 3rds.

Nestle stay top of the table but Moortown are now closing in, still 13 points adrift but with two games in hand.

Trees played with the slope in the first half but were put under pressure from kick-off and finally conceded a try after 12 minutes.

Although they were trying hard, nothing seemed to go right for the visitors and, after 30 minutes, a harsh yellow card left them a player down for 10 minutes and saw Moortown convert the resulting penalty to lead 8-0.

Trees seemed to settle and, with half-time nearing, a loose ball was hacked on by prop Zak Hardy four or fives times from the half-way line and he won the dive for the ball to touch down a try which Jack Daniels converted.

But Moortown generally coped with the conditions far better, and a Nestle dropped ball led to a home score out wide, quickly followed by a penalty.

Trees could not get going again and they conceded another penalty on the hour mark.

A good move then saw Moortown pass the ball out wide to bag another try for a 26-7 lead and, with the game gone, another Trees error near the opposition line saw the hosts break away at speed to score under the posts.