NEW Earswick All Blacks all but wrapped up the league title at West Hull on Wednesday night.

With Norland Sharks – the only team that could catch them – needing to win both of their remaining games and overcome a 50 points-difference deficit, the All Blacks notched a 44-22 win to give them a commanding lead at the top of the Yorkshire Men’s League division one table.

“If we win then we could effectively win top spot,” player-coach Jack Stearman said before the game. “It’s in our hands.”

And Stearman led by example, scoring a brace, while Tom Hields brought his total for the season up to 12 tries.

West Hull took an early 6-0 lead, which was cancelled out by a Jack Carling try and Tom Holmes goal.

Tries from Stearman and Sean Malarkey and one Holmes conversion and penalty gave New Earswick a lead of 18-6 going into half-time.

By the 47th minute, the game was beyond West Hull, with the score at 30-6 thanks to two converted tries, courtesy of Hields, Stearman and Holmes.

West Hull rallied a little to bring the score back to 18-32, but Carling’s ninth try of the season and Holmes’ fourth score put the game to bed.

Holmes has now recorded an impressive 88 goals for the season.

New Earswick travel to York Acorn for the final game of the regular season on Saturday, September 9.

“It would be good to seal it (the title) over at Acorn,” said Stearman. “It wouldn’t make it extra special, but it’s hopefully what we deserve out of the season.”