WINGER Joe Stearman scored twice as New Earswick All Blacks ARLC returned to winning ways in the Pennine League premier division.

The All Blacks turned around a half-time deficit to beat lowly St Joseph's 14-6 at White Rose Avenue to jump up to fourth in the table, albeit having played more games than anyone else.

The home team fell behind in the first half to a Neil Barrett penalty and it remained 2-0 at the break. But Stearman's brace, plus a try for Rob Thrall, gave the York side victory, the scoreline being supplemented by a Ben Jones goal.

All Blacks coach Chris Judge said: "We've got areas to work on, in attack mainly. We were a bit rusty and unconfident but we defended brilliantly. Both sides defended well to be fair.

"We need to work on our attack and being more adventurous, but things are coming along."

Jones' return from National League Two club Hunslet Hawks was a bonus. The half-back played for All Blacks' A' team last week and Judge is sure he will return to the form that brought him the Pennine League Player of the Year award last year.

"He's only played two games in several months and it takes time to settle back in," he said. "He's got to get used to playing again and he should not expect too much from himself too soon.

"As a team we've had just the one game since Christmas and we hardly played in the weeks before, so we're still a bit rusty, but we're looking to build on that result. They weren't a bad side to be fair and it was good to win again."

Struggling Selby Warriors had a week off in division three.

All games in division seven, including New Earswick A' team's match away to runaway leaders Rochdale Mayfield, were postponed. The standings have changed, however, as Harehills and Hoyland Vikings A' have folded with their results expunged. All Blacks A' stay second.

York Acorn A' reached the third round of the Yorkshire League's Alliance Cup with a good 22-14 win over fellow division three high-fliers Castleford Panthers A'.

Heworth A' are stuck at the first round stage after their tie with Stanley Rangers A' was postponed.