On Sunday, October 18, the visitors travelled up the A19 and produced another free-flowing display, running in eight tries and seeing six conversions expertly kicked by Ellie Readman.

Captain Gina Fothergill led from the front as Northallerton quickly imposed themselves on the contest.

Amy Parker opened the scoring with a wonderful arcing run on the wing before side-stepping the last defender, with Readman adding the conversion.

Readman then scored two tries of her own and converted both to give North a 21-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes.

The visitors hoped to match or improve on the 99-point haul they managed the previous week, but Durham defended resolutely and forced several handling errors.

Parker remained a constant threat out wide and added her second try, using her pace to score under the posts.

Readman again converted.

On the stroke of half-time Carla Luck, playing prop for the first time, powered over in the corner for an unconverted score.

Cara Williams added another shortly after the restart before Readman completed a superb individual display with her third try on the hour mark following a side-step and burst of pace.

She converted with a drop kick.

Sophie Bedford then crossed twice on the wing, touching down close to the posts to make Readman's conversion attempts easier.

Durham refused to give in and were rewarded with a late try in the corner after pressuring Northallerton's line in the closing minutes.

Readman was named player of the match by the opposition, while Luck took forward of the match and Laura Isherwood was named back of the match.

A special mention was also given to Natalie Tart, who returned to action after giving birth to daughter Maeve during the summer.

Northallerton Ladies are next in action at home against Penrith Panthers in the cup on Sunday, October 25, with a 2pm kick-off.

Northallerton men's first team also produced an improved display despite suffering a narrow 31-27 defeat at Ilkley's second team.

Still searching for their first win of the season, North travelled to Ilkley looking to bounce back from the previous week's heavy loss and came close in an entertaining encounter.

The visitors started strongly and took the lead after 10 minutes when Matt Clark, playing at hooker, continued his fine form with a try following good work from Phil Swall and Ed Meek.

Jack Tart added the conversion.

Ilkley soon levelled when missed tackles in midfield allowed the hosts to score beneath the posts.

The contest then ebbed and flowed, with both sides exchanging tries throughout.

After 20 minutes, German debutant Oliver Rause broke from inside his own half before offloading to Tart, who finished in the corner.

Ilkley responded again through their powerful number five before North regained the lead shortly before half-time.

John Cloutson pinned the hosts deep in their own territory with a penalty kick and, from the resulting line-out, Clark crossed for his second try of the match and fourth in two games.

North led 17-14 at the interval.

The second half proved just as entertaining, with four more tries.

Ilkley moved ahead early in the half with a converted score, but North hit back through replacement forward David Baker after scrum-half Will Robinson repeatedly exploited gaps behind the advancing defence.

The home side responded with another converted try and a long-range penalty to establish a nine-point advantage.

North continued to battle and reduced the deficit in the closing stages.

Following a crunching tackle from French winger Tom Moules, North recovered possession and Harold Ewart crossed in the corner after a dummy scissors move.

Tart's conversion drifted wide, leaving North four points adrift, and Ilkley controlled the final minutes to secure victory.

Teenage scrum-half Robinson was named Northallerton's man of the match.

North next welcome Harrogate 2nds to Brompton Lodge for the final 3pm kick-off of the year.

The match will be sponsored by Tank Promotions, with a pre-match luncheon for dignitaries and invited guests.

Northallerton men's second-team fixture was cancelled after Sedgefield were unable to raise a side.