Jack Stearman adds steel to New Earswick All Blacks pack (From York Press)

Jack Stearman adds steel to New Earswick All Blacks pack

10:14am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Sport

FORMER York City Knights forward Jack Stearman is back in the New Earswick All Blacks ARLC pack for the trip to Pennine League championship newcomers Knottingley Rockware.

One-time Scotland international prop Stearman is available for the game on Saturday (2.30pm) after missing the White Rose Avenue club’s opening 16-12 win at home to Westgate Wolves.

A delay in the delivery of his registration card kept him sidelined, but he is named in a squad which also features centre Chris Spain, who was on holiday last week.

With no injuries reported at training, All Blacks head coach Simon Malarkey is once again picking from strength.

Malarkey was pleased with the team’s first-day form and called for the squad to make steady improvements – a prompting echoed by skipper Adam Kirby.

All Blacks know very little about their hosts. Rockware have transferred across from the Yorkshire League in order to continue playing winter rugby and were 16-0 winners at Ossett Trinity in their opening game.

All Blacks ‘A’, now led by last season’s first-team coach Simon Baynes, start their season at home to Bradford side Undercliffe Wildboars, last year’s division six champions who have been elevated to division four.

Among the players returning to New Earswick this season are Mark Tipping and Phil Turpin, with former All Blacks junior Wayne Garwood joining them once his commitments with Normanton Knights are completed.

Kyle Lawson will be available after completing a ban held over from last season.

Selby Warriors host West Leeds in division three, while their ‘A’ team are home to Moorends Thorne Marauders 'A' in division seven.