YORK RI's hopes of ending their Yorkshire Two duck were shattered when skipper John Alexander had to leave the fray in a bad-tempered defeat against Ripon at New Lane.

The home fans were unhappy when Alexander was on the receiving end of a stray boot after 15 minutes and had to go off with a facial injury with his side 10-0 up.

Tries by scrum-half Pigeon and full-back Hart had given RI the upper hand.

RI brought on Richard Townend but Ripon had drew level by half-time when they were awarded a penalty try and then scored with a rolling maul.

Ripon edged ahead with a try in the corner but RI fought back strongly and reduced the arrears with a Ben Hobson penalty.

RI then lost winger Musgrave, sent off for retaliation, and found themselves having to defend with 14 men. A second penalty try converted by Robbie Rua gave Ripon a nine-point lead.

From the restart RI attacked the Ripon line and were rewarded when Ryan Mallon dived over. Hobson's conversion cut Ripon's lead to two points but the visitors' one-man advantage paid off when they scored wide out to seal a 27-20 victory.