NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC are set to quit the Yorkshire League and play in the Pennine League next season.

A unanimous vote at the club's annual general meeting confirmed that the senior side would be making an application to join neighbours York Groves, Selby Warriors and York Acorn 'A' in the Pennine League for the 2004-05 season.

It is thought this league provides more fixture notice while registration of players is better policed. Charles Rollinson, who was re-elected as club chairman at the AGM, said: "We just feel the Pennine League is better organised and more competitive."

If the application is successful, the All Blacks are likely to be placed in the league's first or, at the lowest, second division. The first division is the second tier, below the premier division.

Rollinson added: "We're hoping we will be successful and we're looking forward to playing in a different league."

The well attended AGM also saw the election of the following officers, in addition to Rollinson as chairman: vice-chairman - Keith Bearpark; secretary - Phil Johnson; treasurers - Stuart Barker and Paul Pallister; media press officer - Mark Tipping.

Last season the senior side won both York and District cup competitions and finished fifth in the Yorkshire League senior division, while the junior section had a fine season with the under-12s and U14s narrowly missing out on silverware.

The first pre-season light training session under first-team coach Simon Baines is set for June 24 with all players welcome to attend.

Updated: 10:16 Saturday, May 22, 2004