NEW EARSWICK All Blacks’ player-coach Jack Stearman says the club’s season so far has exceeded all expectations.

After switching from the winter Pennine League, the All Blacks had been targeting a top three spot in the Yorkshire Men’s League first division.

However, as the season reaches its halfway stage, the club is now three points clear at the top of the table.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Knottingley Worms, Stearman said: “We are absolutely delighted with the way things have gone.

“Our goal for the season was to qualify for the semi-final of the Forty-20 Cup and finish in the top three of the league to qualify for the play-offs. So we are ahead of expectations.”

The All Blacks beat Oulton Raiders in the final of the Forty-20 Cup and have won seven out of the first eight league games.

They held onto top spot last weekend thanks to a 26-4 victory over second placed Norland Sharks.

Asked about the reasons for the club’s success, Stearman said: “Merging the Under 18s with the Open Age side has definitely helped and having four coaches gives us a different dimension.”

The All Blacks have a virtually full-strength squad available for this weekend’s game with the exception of Reece Blake, who is out for the season with a broken arm, and Pete Richie who has been out for three weeks with a shoulder injury.

Heworth will be looking for a return to winning ways when they visit Odsal Sedbergh.

Back-to-back defeats against Skirlaugh Bulls and New Earswick have seen the Villagers drop to third in the table, four points adrift of the leaders.

In Yorkshire Four, meanwhile, table-toppers York Lokomotive play host to Stainland Stags.