The Red Bus got back on the road with a superb win, their first ever at Headingley at the eighth attempt.
The four points helped the visiting side climb back up the table to fourth place, just above Cornish Pirates and a couple behind Bedford.
The Reds made an impressive start, dominating the early exchanges and eventually scoring when the ball was worked across to Leroy Van Dam who crossed for a score that went unconverted. Brett Herron soon made amends with a penalty, but then the home side reduced the arrears from a powerful scrum drive that culminated in Dan Temm pouncing on the loose ball.
After a period of attack, a penalty was signalled to the Reds as they attacked, but never awarded as the 'free play' was worked via Mark Best to James Newey for the try, which was maximised thanks to an excellent conversion by Herron.
Late in the half Janco Venter was shown a yellow card for a tip-tackle and the home side took advantage to maul the ball over the line, although the conversion was missed.
Both sides went into the break with 14 men after Elijah Niko was penalised for killing the ball in the dying stages. The Reds opted to go for the corner, rather than the posts, but couldn't add to their tally before the half ended.
The third quarter was an attritional affair but the Reds defended superbly and were eventually able to stretch their lead thanks to a brace of penalties converted by Herron. And with time up, a Mark Best interception led to a try by Newey, Homer adding the final icing to the cake with the conversion to make it five-from-six for him from the tee.
The Reds have a weekend off next week, but will be supporting Jersey Reds Women in their home game with Amesbury on Saturday at 12.30pm (with 6 Nations to follow), and then the next 1st XV home game is the Friday Night Lights encounter against Doncaster Knights - advance tickets available via Eventbrite.
JERSEY REDS: Worrall; Marx (Penberthy 76), Newey, Best, Van Dam; Herron, Homer; Godfrey (Morley 63), Maddison (Macfarlane 71), Atalifo (Rodman 61), Sexton (capt) (Beckett h-t), McKern, Bartle, Hatherell, Venter (YC 37). Not used: Upfield, Howley
YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE: Elder; Watkins, Lucock, Umaga, Niko (YC 39); Te Rure, Bruzilier; Mayhew N, Buckle, Foster, Lemalu, Smith, Wilson, Mayhew R (capt), Temm.
Replacements: Donnellan, Hill, Nixon, Kiri Kiri, Bainbridge, Wolstenholme, Forsyth.
REFEREE: Matthew O'Grady. Assistants: Jamie Leahy, Gregory Garner
ATTENDANCE: 1,726
Half Time: 10-15
Scorers
Yorkshire Carnegie
Tries: Temm 21, Smith 38
Jersey Reds
Tries: Van Dam 5, Newey 26, 80
Conversions: Herron 26, 80
Penalties: Herron 15, 69, 75
