NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC again pushed Pennine League championship leaders Mirfield close - but again were narrowly beaten.

A week after their agonising last-minute 34-32 loss, All Blacks were denied revenge as they this time fell 32-28 at home.

They broke the deadlock after ten minutes as Tommy Hields weaved his way through the defence for his first try of the season, Tom Holmes converting, and they remained on top, pinning Mirfield in their half and looking dangerous on every attack.

However, the game changed as the visitors scored three converted tries in five minutes before half-time.

They broke away for their first on 34 minutes, their full-back chipping and chasing to touch down under the posts.

From the restart, Mirfield again broke through and went in again under the posts.

Then on 39 minutes they scored again for an 18-6 interval lead against the run of play.

New Earswick rallied after half-time, knowing they had been the better team for most of the first half.

Less than a minute into the second stanza, winger Sam Cooper kicked through a loose ball on half-way and gave chase. He kicked on again into the in-goal area and grounded the ball, Holmes converting.

It was then tit for tat as Mirfield went over next and converted for a 24-12 lead, before Jack Sinclair closed the gap on 57 minutes after running a good line and crashing over, Holmes converting.

Mirfield were under pressure for much of the second half and so, when given a penalty for offside, opted to eke their lead up to 26-18 with a two-pointer.

It was far from game over, as quick thinking by All Blacks player-coach Jack Stearman after a penalty on Mirfield's line saw him duck under two defenders to score. Holmes again added the extras and it was 26-24.

Mirfield again came back, though, and another converted try five minutes from time gave them breathing space - and it proved crucial as New Earswick had the last say, Hields crossing again in the left corner.

Odsal Sedbergh, meanwhile, have been the latest team to withdraw from the league, and all their remaining games have been declared 30-0 walkover defeats, including one against New Earswick. These results lift the York side above Sedbergh and out of the bottom two.

Meanwhile, Sherburn Bears bolstered their division four east title push with four points without kicking a ball.

They were handed a walkover by Saturday opponents Dewsbury Moor, and another two points as Drighlington conceded all their remaining games.