NORTH Ribblesdale travelled to Crag Lane in Leeds for the first league encounter with Leodiensians for more than a decade and emerged with a comfortable 32-17 success.

The two sides played differing games, Leodiensians getting the ball wide at every opportunity and Ribblesdale favouring a more "Route One" style in which the pack had an important part to play.

First blood went to the home side when a penalty attempt bounced off the post for a gleeful Sale to accept a simple touchdown and an early seven-point lead.

The determination in this Ribblesdale side meant that this was seen only as a temporary setback. From a close-range scrum, Russell Howarth touched down and repeated the feat again, but the visitors were still four points adrift following a well-worked try by the speedy winger Willcocks.

Ten minutes before the break a Leodiensians forward was given 10 minutes in the sin-bin for dangerous play at a lineout and the home pack effort then wilted as Ribblesdale grew in confidence.

They then hit a purple patch that yielded 17 points in eight minutes with tries from Michael Carr and young stand-off Adam Whaites, who is improving with every game.

Whaites converted both and kicked a penalty to seal the game for Ribb at 27-14.

The Leeds side threatened briefly in the second-half, but with only a late penalty to show for their efforts, could not match the power of the Ribblesdale forwards.

The best score of the day was the finale try. The outstanding Ryan Kirkbride began a move on the half-way line and after forward drives by Bradley, Howarth, Carr and Throup, Kirkbride was on hand again to power over and cap a good all-round team performance.

On this form Ribblesdale will be looking forward with relish to next year and with the forwards and especially the back-row being in outstanding form, maybe promotion is still a possibility.

There is also the prospect of getting closer and closer to a day out at Twickenham to act as a spur to all concerned.

This weekend Ribblesdale visit local rivals Keighley after avoiding the need to visit Beverley in a postponed league game.

The only change involved Adam Stubbs, who gets a start in place of Russell Howarth, who has work commitments.

Keighley have Chris Meehan at fly-half, with John Hargreaves returning to full-back.