North Ribblesdale are flying after promotion, and remain top of the Counties One Yorkshire after a sensational destruction of Harrogate Pythons on Saturday.

Hosts Harrogate team had won four of their first five league games, so a stern test was expected, but that did not come to pass as the visitors stormed to a 47-0 victory.

After the opening salvos it did not take long for the now almost customary early North Ribblesdale try to be scored.

After thrilling back play, young fullback Ben Coultherd scythed through to score, Tom Davidson converting to give Ribb a 7-0 lead.

What followed in the next 35 minutes was a demolition of a high-flying side with three more converted tries.

The first came from a hungry Elliot Marklew, then Andy Thwaite and Oliver Drew both crossed the line too.

With Davidson’s boot on song, that gave the away side a 28-0 lead, with a bonus point already secured.

Despite skipper Harry Mathew receiving a yellow card early in the second half, Ribb did not concede any points while down to 14 men, and soon ran riot once their leader was back on the field.

They scored three tries once the game was back to 15-a-side, the prolific Ralph Wellock, the very impressive John Padley and the improving Callum Mathew all crossing the whitewash.

Two of the three tries were converted by the versatile Hennie Van Rensburg to give Ribb an impressive 47-0 away win. 

Six straight bonus point wins are a statement of intent from this improving Ribb team, who now sit at the top of the table by two points from Keighley.

There are plenty of challenges ahead though for North Ribb, not least this Saturday’s home game against Hullensians, who have won five games from six so far.