ENSIANS’ started 2023 with a trip to York to play Nestle Rowntrees, and it was more than worthwhile.

After heavy morning rain, the pitch was in good condition and the weather was sunny with a light breeze.

The visitors, playing in their traditional blue strip, went straight into the attack and after only three minutes a loose ball was snapped up and passed to Luke Cowdell who barged over for a try converted by Jake Bentley.

The hosts using their heavy pack forced their way into the visitors' half and with the help of two penalties camped on the blues line but great defence held them out. However after 25 minutes Olly Eaves won the ball after a drop out and passed to Will Howarth who raced over to score a try again converted by Jake Bentley.

Five minutes later from a series of rucks on the home line 'Ensians opened out the ball for Daz Greenwood who scored wide out superbly converted by Jake Bentley.

Not to be outdone Nestle moved into the visitors' 22 and their weighty pack scored a well taken converted pushover try with the 'Ensians scrum in disarray giving a half time score of 21-7 in favour of the visitors.

Following an injury to an 'Ensians prop with scrums becoming uncontested; they moved straight into attack and with the backs combining well a well timed pass to Will Howarth enabled him to score an unconverted try to give the visitors' their bonus point.

Then after 12 minutes a superb 50-20 touch kick by Olly Eaves gave the blues the throw in .After lovely lineout work by Keiran Walker the ball crossed to Luke Cowdell who broke three tackles and recycled the ball to Jake Bentley who had a clear run to score (and convert) a sublime try.

The reds came back again using their big forwards to make inroads into the blues' territory, followed by five minutes encamped on the visitors' line. Only stout defence held them out. Every player strained every sinew, and it would be churlish to pick anyone out for special mention.

Eventually the ball was cleared, and after 31 minutes a beautiful pass by Will Cooper in his own 22 to Will Howarth resulted in a 75-metre sprint for the line, outpacing a frantic defence to complete his hat trick which was once again converted by Jake Bentley.

The scoring was completed when Will Cooper chipped neatly following a scrum in the 22 and who else but Jake Bentley picked it up to score and convert the Ensians’ seventh try of the game and to take his personal contribution to 22 points, as the visitors stormed to an impressive 47-7 victory.

Ensians return to their stomping ground on Saturday when they play host to a struggling Hessle side in the Yorkshire Division Four league table.

The hosts will be eager to maintain pressure on the division's top two sides, Halifax and Rotherham Phoenix.