NESTLE Rowntree RUFC had only the bare 15 players for their Yorkshire Four Shield trip to Burley and lost 38-17 to remain second bottom.
It looked promising for Trees early on as they drove forward up the slope and against the breeze, and took the lead inside three minutes.
They won a five-metre lineout and Ryan Roodt, back after four games out, drove over.
However, while the York side were playing well, a fumbled pass saw Burley spin the ball out wide to score after 25 minutes and, from the restart, the hosts kicked downfield where a fortunate bounce took the ball straight to the full-back who raced under the sticks.
Trees were defending well but another unlucky bounce brought another home try, making it 19-5 after half an hour with Trees also now down to 13 fit bodies.
Burley exploited the extra men and scored another converted try on half-time.
The hosts, throwing the ball about on the resumption, soon scored again. Then Trees allowed the ball to bounce from a kick through and again it went straight to a Burley player. He was stopped short but recycled the ball brought the try and a 38-5 lead.
A walloping looked afoot but Trees rallied and started to play some good rugby, being rewarded with a penalty try on the hour, even though captain Greg Neill had grounded the ball.
They scored again the hard way via the forwards driving downfield, with scrum-half Romain Cames darting in, but Burley's defence held firm thereafter to deny Trees a try bonus point.
Nestle host Halifax on Saturday.
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