NEW Earswick All Blacks came from behind to lift the York and District RL Accident Cup with an 8-6 win over York Acorn 'A' in the final.

The victory, in front of a large crowd at Earswick's White Rose Avenue ground, saw Acorn 'A's departing coaching duo of Mick Lumby and Kevin Warters unfortunately end on a low note.

Furthermore, the decisive try was scored by an old foe of Warters, veteran All Blacks winger Dave Meek.

Warters said: "I was a bit gutted. It was a local derby and instead of playing rugby we got caught up in the niggly stuff. And it was the old head, 'Meeky', who scored the winning try. I used to play against him years ago."

Defences were on top for much of the keenly contested match. Indeed it took 20 minutes for the first score to be registered, Acorn going ahead with a try under the sticks by scrum-half Paul Sawyer converted by Craig Fox.

The Blue and Golds then had two players, Lee Frank and Michael Embleton, sin-binned for back chatting and this gave the All Blacks the chance to put the pressure on.

They pounded the Acorn line but had to wait until the last minute of the first half to score, stand-off Simon Mallarkey sending out a superb pass to see Nick Massingham crash over in the corner.

The conversion attempt was missed.

The second half was much like the first, with defences holding firm for the first 20 minutes. Then All Blacks, led by prop Jamie Daniel and second row Pete Johnson, clawed their way in front, the crucial try coming on the hour mark.

Former York Wasps player Carl Barrow passed to winger Meek, who took three tacklers over the try line to score in the corner. The conversion attempt was again missed, meaning there was still only a goal between the teams.

The last quarter saw both sides looking for the final touchdown, and it seemed Acorn's Frank would steal the win with an interception try from his own half only for last man Jez Petch, All Blacks' captain, to peg him back as he covered from centre.

The man of the match award went to All Blacks' full-back, Andy Innes, though Petch and Daniel ran him close.

- Northern Ford Premiership favou-rites Huddersfield completed the first leg of a possible double when they beat Hull KR 32-6 in the final of the Buddies National League Cup, one-time York Wasps player Rob Roberts scoring a try and being named man of the match.

Updated: 12:01 Monday, May 27, 2002