New Earswick All Blacks ARLC travelled to King Cross Park with a bare 13 players and were hit with a 28-10 defeat in the Pennine League championship.

The reverse was the White Rose Avenue side’s ninth of the campaign, but the scoreline failed to reflect the effort of the visitors, who led at the interval.

King Cross took the lead with an unconverted try, but the All Blacks responded and took the lead when second-rower Jack Sinclair crashed over and half-back Liam Gargan converted.

All Blacks extended their lead when winger Louis Pool crossed in the corner for an unconverted try and it remained 10-4 at half-time.

King Cross levelled with a converted try two minutes after the restart.

The All Blacks’ defensive line held out for a long stretch under severe pressure, but the home side crossed for three more converted tries.

Man of the match for the All Blacks, who fought to the final whistle, was hooker Joe Davis.

He was backed up well by prop Alan Davidson and centre Chris Spain.

New Earswick ‘A’ took a point from a 30-30 draw with Victoria Rangers after a fluctuating division four encounter at White Rose Avenue.

Victoria pulled level with a try three minutes from time and the All Blacks felt they should have been awarded a kickable penalty on the stroke of full-time.

The visitors had earlier taken the lead with a converted try and, although All Blacks full-back Ben Cooper touched down and Victoria had a player sin-binned, the away side led 14-4 midway through the first half.

On 28 minutes, loose forward Dan Atkinson powered over, with Luke Campbell adding the conversion.

Campbell then crossed for an unconverted try and Dean Layton then kicked a penalty to make it 16-14 to the hosts at half-time.

Victoria scored the first try of the second period and, after a touch down by Layton, they added a converted try to lead 26-20.

Winger Adam Smith went over in the corner for a try converted by Layton, who then raced onto a kick by man of the match Jack Carling on the last tackle to give the All Blacks a 30-26 lead.

While Carling starred, Rob Graham, Dan Atkinson and Campbell also shone.

Holders Selby Warriors opened their defence of the Selby & District Cup with a 50-14 win over North Yorkshire Stallions in round one.

The Warriors led 34-4 at the break after tries by Gavyn Lightowler (2), Kyle Jarret, Ben Pearson, Chris O’Neil and Dave Makin, plus five Lightowler conversions.

Captain Wayne Fennell scored twice after the break and Makin added his second touch down.

Selby ‘A’ exited the Pennine Supplementary Cup after a 28-20 home quarter-final defeat by Hanging Heaton.