NEW EARSWICK All Blacks coach Jack Stearman was philosophical after his side got off to a losing start in the Pennine Championship as they were beaten 28-24 at Stainland Stags.

His men ran out of time against one of the league's new outfits, leaving the White Rose Avenue chief arguing they had not been clinical enough.

“We’ve got a few new faces in the team, and without the run of the green at times, we played well," Stearman said. "Hats off to Stainland they punished us when we made mistakes and we weren’t clinical enough when we had the advantage.

"We lacked match practice and looked tired at times, there are definitely things that we need to work on and put things right for next time out."

New Earswick got off to a great start when, on seven minutes, winger Sam Cooper walked in after Sean Malarkey drew two Stainland defenders. It was 12-0 shortly after when Stearman took three defenders over the line with him and touched down under the sticks. Liam Gargan converted both tries.

Form there, however, the Stags suddenly burst into life after Tommy Hields was sin-binned for a professional foul. They used an overlap to go over in the corner and, with two minutes left in the half, they reduced the deficit to only two points with another score.

Stainland carried on into the second half, crossing after only two minutes of the resumption and a 16-12 lead. But despite a lack of ball and going uphill, a brilliant individual effort from Mikey Horton, burying over the line from dummy half, picked up spirits and Gargan's conversion put New Earswick back in front 18-16.

The game turned when Adam Kirby and a Stags player were sinbinned for a scuffle on the hour mark and Stainland made the most of the wide pitch to score and convert twice and lead 28-18.

Kirby made amends on his return, going over after stepping the defence, but Stainland held firm as All Blacks pressed for the winning try.