Triumphant New Earswick All Blacks lifted the 100 year old York and District Cup after holding off a spirited challenge from York Groves.

100 NOT OUT: New Earswick All Blacks hold aloft captain Simon Malarkey after their 22-6 York and District Cup centenary final victory over York Groves at Clifton Park

In a dour centenary final at Clifton Park, the 22-6 scoreline flattered National Conference side All Blacks who would have expected to have run out easy winners against their Yorkshire League opponents.

Had it not been for sloppy handling errors at crucial moments Groves may even have pulled off a shock victory but, led by the three McTigue brothers, All Blacks had just too much experience.

And the clinching try in the final minute fittingly went to Australian centre Dave O'Connell who returns home down under in three weeks after two fine seasons with New Earswick.

There was little to choose between the sides in the first half as the All Blacks struggled to a 12-4 interval lead. An Alan Mitchell penalty early in the second half left Groves just a converted try behind but two further New Earswick touch downs put the game beyond reach.

Strong running Paul Booth opened the scoring for All Blacks after 15 minutes with a typical prop's try, using his strength to force his way over from acting half and leave Chris Thompson a kickable conversion.

But instead of settling All Blacks' nerves it was Groves who stole the initiative. Scrum half Rich Pollock should have scored when All Blacks full back Sean Bewley failed to cover his grubber kick but Pollock knocked on as he attempted to ground the ball.

There was no such mistake minutes later. Winger John Rushworth picked up a loose All Blacks pass to race 50 metres before being brought down by Wayne Garwood. Then from the next play, the ball was worked across the line and Nigel Ridsdale set up impressive second row Andy Starkey to score wide out.

A mistake by Groves, who dropped the ball in their own 20 metre area, gave All Blacks the chance to hit back which they gratefully accepted, Mick McTigue putting Brad Atkinson in for a try which Thompson again converted.

Groves had two more chances before the break, first Ridsdale just failed to reach Simon Moat's kick through then Moat himself was held up just short, as he was early in the second half.

Player-coach Mitchell's penalty put Groves back in it before Ridsdale pulled off a superb tackle to stop Mick McTigue just short of the line.

But a controversial try by Bewley, who was adjudged by referee Stuart Evans to have got the ball down in the corner despite claims he had been tackled into touch, gave All Blacks an unaasailable 10 point lead.

Groves were camped on the All Blacks line for the final 10 minutes but couldn't break through a rock solid defence and it was O'Connell, on a rare excursion into the Groves half, who grabbed the final score.

Groves centre Martin Simpson took the man of the match award.

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