NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC kept in touch with the Pennine League premier division leaders by winning 18-14 at Siddal A', but they were made to battle hard by the anchor club.

The hosts have won only one game this term - and had the points for that deducted for fielding an ineligible player - but they were no mugs with the only difference between the sides being All Blacks' Carl Pallister's kicking prowess.

Pallister, who only took over the kicking duties after captain Ben Jones limped off with an ankle injury midway through the first half, scored all but four of All Blacks' points, with the last try coming from man-of-the-match prop Wayne Foster.

Siddal went ahead with a tenth-minute try, but All Blacks hit back on 23 minutes as hooker Tom Hodgson sent centre Pallister in at the corner, with the latter goaling from the touchline.

On the half-hour, a high kick from Liam Gargan saw Pallister catch the ball and score his second try, again converting from out wide.

A Siddal try reduced the gap to 12-8 at half-time and All Blacks had to withstand ample pressure after the break, with a rising penalty count against them.

However, superb defence led by Foster, Dan Wellard and Alan Pallister kept the hosts at bay and, with ten minutes left, Foster scored in the corner after good work by winger Tom Dale.

Carl Pallister's third touchline conversion made it 18-8 but All Blacks had to hold on at the death after full-back Joe Stearman was sin-binned for dissent and Siddal set up a grandstand finish with a try five minutes from time.

Selby Warriors crashed to a 28-6 loss at Silsden Park Rangers in division three. Rangers had won only once before and remain bottom.

York Acorn A' leapfrogged Selby with a good 44-10 defeat of Bank Top Harriers.