NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC blew a great chance of silverware as they lost 28-20 at home to Stanley Rangers in the BARLA Yorkshire Cup quarter-finals.

All Blacks led 20-6 at half-time and looked in control, but the Yorkshire League big-guns were allowed to storm back with four tries without reply in the space of 20 second-half minutes.

Stanley now meet Hunslet Old Boys in the last four, and All Blacks chairman Charles Rollinson said it puts them in a strong position to lift the trophy, with the other semi-final being played between two reserve sides, Skirlaugh Bulls and East Hull Dragons.

Rollinson said: "It was very disappointing to lose after laying the foundations for a win at 20-6. We looked comfortable, but that's cup football - if you don't play for 80 minutes you don't go through.

"I would put them as favourites to win it now. They played some good stuff but it was disappointing we could not hold them after getting into a winning position."

All Blacks' Jekyll-and-Hyde performance began well, with prop Jo Jo Hnesh crashing over on four minutes for Ben Jones to convert.

A Stanley try followed by a penalty brought the visitors level, but 14 points in the last ten minutes of the first half put the hosts in command.

Half-back Jones dummied through the defence and raced 50 yards to the line, then substitute forward Al Davison took four men over the whitewash with him. Jones converted both tries and, with the clock ticking down, added a long-range penalty.

All Blacks had been concerned before the game about who to play at hooker in place of the unavailable Tom Hodgson, Alan Pallister and third-choice acting-half Mark Tipping, but the versatile Carl Pallister did a good job.

Man of the match Chris Judge was also excelling at loose-forward and he continued to look dangerous in the second half, making several half-breaks as well as taking his tackle count up to 40.

However, All Blacks' game worsened and, on 55 minutes, Stanley's comeback began with a try in the corner.

The visitors added converted tries on 58, 65 and 75 minutes and, despite the continued efforts of Davison, Jones and Jamie Daniel for the home team, the tide had turned.

All Blacks have been drawn away to Frizington in round one of the National Cup.