NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC are expecting a fine to go with a points deduction after forfeiting a second Pennine League championship match this season.

All Blacks called off Saturday's trip to Queensbury on Friday night after injury and illness put them down to only 11 players.

League chiefs were to discuss the matter at a management meeting tonight, with All Blacks likely to be asked to explain the situation.

After a forfeit in the autumn - which later became immaterial as opponents Batley Boys quit the league - player-coach Jack Stearman had told The Press he was confident it was a one-off.

The club have more than 30 players registered but secretary Paul Pallister said: "Some lads work alternate Saturdays and we have quite a few injuries - and some players have let us down. It's all fallen on the same weekend."

The two-point deduction leaves All Blacks third bottom and facing a relegation battle in what has been another frustrating season hit by bad weather amid a fixture list already disrupted by weekends off, teams leaving and restructures.

Meanwhile, Selby Warriors crashed 50-24 at bottom club Woodhouse to fall out of the promotion reckoning in division two, while Sherburn Bears' 100 per cent record in division four east ended with a 32-18 loss at mid-table Allerton Bywater 'A'. The Bears are still top.