A HAT-TRICK of tries in the closing 12 minutes consigned New Earswick All Blacks ARLC to their sixth defeat of the Pennine League Championship campaign.

The All Blacks trailed 14-10 at the break at home to Methley Royals and matched their visitors in the early stages of the second period, but the late flurry saw them lose 36-16.

Methley took the lead after five minutes at White Rose Avenue with a converted try, but All Blacks hit back when prop Jack Stearman powered over and stand-off Tom Holmes converted.

The Royals forged ahead again with two unconverted tries, but again the hosts responded with a well-worked move that saw prop Dan Atkinson score two minutes before the break.

Three minutes into the second half, Methley added a converted try, but All Blacks loose forward Joe Davis managed to ground the ball under pressure from the Methley defence and half-back Liam Gargan added the extras to make it 20-16.

Then came Methley’s decisive run of three late tries to seal victory.

The All Blacks man of the match was hooker Jack Carling, who was backed up well by second rower Carl Smith and centre Reece Blake.

Bottom side Selby Warriors crashed 74-4 at third-placed Boothtown Terriers in division one.

Selby Warriors ‘A’ enjoyed a 34-16 home win over Moorends Thorne Marauders in division seven.

Sherburn Bears went joint top of division five courtesy of a 38-16 victory over Brighouse Rangers ‘A’. It was the Bears’ final home game of the season and they saw it out in style.

Visitors Brighouse were in no mood to make life easy for the hosts, and on the back of some impressive wins the Rangers were definitely looking to spoil the Bears party.

But Sherburn prevailed with tries fshared between Sam Booth, Martin Jackson, Ryan Smith, Kevin Dalton, Mikey Dalton, Rhys Hughes and Martin Leahy. Leahy also added five conversions.

The Bears’ Yorkshire Laser man of the match was winger Smith, while the top tackler was hard-working hooker Shaun Crossland.