The Lancashire Wolverines suffered defeat at the hands of the Yorkshire Rams in the Battle of the Roses clash.

The visitors received the opening kick-off, which bounced out of bounds to give Yorkshire a good starting position.

An opening three-and-out meant that the hosts were soon able to get on the ball but thei Rams failed to take advantage.

A passing game was almost non-existent in the opening quarter and it became a battle of the ground games, and who could hold onto the football.

The away team were the first to blink mid-way through the first quarter, with a Rams fumble gifting possession to the Wolverines deep inside their own half.

Strong running from back field pairing Joe Nicholson and Stuart Robinson was finished off by the former, as he dived into the end zone for six points.

The PAT hit the upright and bounced out.

Both sides continued to struggle to move the ball for the rest of the first half, with turnovers peppering the way alongside a misfiring offence meaning there was little joy to be had.

As the second half got under way, a change in offences occurred.

A turnover early in the third gave the ball to visitors in good field position, and the Rams were able to drive to within field goal range where kicker Andrew Cheeseman cut the deficit in half at 6-3.

Yorkshire was able to maintain their pressure on the Lancashire offence, regaining the ball quickly before they were able to break the plane as running back Adim Irozuru ploughed his way into the endzone for the score.

The PAT was missed, but still the Rams now vitally held a 9-6 lead.

With a number of injuries, including number one and two quarterbacks, David Mead and Adam Purcell, the Wolverines struggled to move the ball on offence. Again the Rams were able to break into the end zone with powerful running and again it was Irozuru who capped off a time-sapping drive to put the score at 15-6 to give Yorkshire a two score advantage.

Lancashire were pushed back back to the one yard line and elected to take a deliberate safety to clear their lines and recover the ball in better position.

With the score now at 17-6, the Rams were able to keep the clock and ball moving on the ground. Although unable to score again, the Rams’ defence remained solid and two late interceptions from safety Chris Lawton meant that the result was safe as quarterback Jacob Hardy kneeled out the victory.

The Wolverines slip to 1-2 on the season with a long away trip to East Kilbride on the cards next to face the dominating Pirates.

They’ll be hoping to cause an upset and get back to winning ways.