PENNINE League division one title favourites Halifax Irish gave New Earswick All Blacks a taste of their abilities as they ran riot in a 36-4 win.

The All Blacks actually made the first inroads with an individual try by scrum half Ben Jones to put the visitors 4-0 up.

But Halifax, already eight points clear in the table, responded with touchdowns by Gareth Matthews, Paul O'Byrne and Nick Smith - all improved by Lee Brook to make it 18-4 at the break for an already unassailable lead.

Despite some great effort by the All Blacks, who had to spend ten minutes without Chris Judge after he was sin-binned for retaliation, further Irish tries were ran in by Craig Norman, Matthews and Chris Holroyd.

New Earswick have two weeks to regroup with their next action not scheduled until January 7.

York Groves have been awarded a 30-0 win by the Pennine League after Birkenshaw 'A' called off Saturday's division five game because they could not raise a team.

Selby Warriors edged out Wyke 28-26 in division four.

Pennine League

Div 1: Halifax Irish 36, New Earswick All Blacks 4; Kippax Welfare 68, Thornhill Trojans 18.

Div 2: Silsden Park Rangers 30, Odsal Sedbergh 18.

Div 3: Hollinwood 20, Stainland Stags 26.

Div 4: Selby Warriors 28, Wyke 26; Sheffield Hillsborough 22, Meltham All Blacks 38.

Div 5: Woodhouse Warriors v Wetherby Bulldogs postponed; York Groves 30, Birkenshaw 'A' 0.

Updated: 09:54 Tuesday, December 20, 2005