NEW Earswick All Blacks overcame the muddy conditions to keep their promotion push on track with an 18-4 win at Victoria Rangers in Pennine League division one.
Young prop Jack Stearman got his first try for the club while captain Jez Petch and Chris Judge also crossed.
Loose-forward Judge was man of the match after a hard-working display in which he led the defensive effort with more than 40 tackles.
The All Blacks had worked on their defence in training and it paid off as they denied Victoria any tries, their points coming from two penalties.
Ben Jones had another good game at half-back and booted one conversion to go with two for James Sanderson.
"It wasn't the greatest performance but it was a case of getting the job done," said joint-coach Simon Baynes. "We were looking for improvement in defence and the players came up with the goods."
The All Blacks are almost guaranteed promotion given the gap to the chasers, while their big game against Halifax Irish - surely a title decider - takes place on Easter Saturday.
Irish have not been beaten for 12 months and got a 16th straight league win when disposing of Birkenshaw 48-10.
Selby Warriors look set to end a season that promised much with nothing.
The Warriors were pipped in their Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy semi-final 23-20 by Hoyland Vikings, who play in a division above.
They still lie second in division four but, with their programme now completed, their hopes of promotion rest with bottom club Thornton beating third-placed Wyke next week in what would be the shock of the year. Leaders Littleborough won the title by beating Thornton 26-4.
Updated: 10:02 Tuesday, April 04, 2006
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