New Earswick All Blacks ARLC ‘A’ narrowly failed to pull off a shock home win over Pennine League division four leaders Oulton Raiders ‘B’, going down 26-20.

The defeat leaves All Blacks ‘A’ third from bottom, seven points ahead of second-bottom Siddal ‘B’.

Nevertheless, coach Carl Pallister was happy with the performance of his young players after All Blacks allowed Oulton to take a 14-0 lead after 12 minutes.

However, they were rewarded for their efforts just before half-time with a try by James Pallister, after stand-off Ben Cooper’s well placed kick, Pallister converting his own try to make it 14-6 at the break.

After the interval, All Blacks scrum-half Shaun Malarky went through a gap in the Raiders defence to score an unconverted try, before Oulton hit back with a converted try to lead 20-12.

Dan Wright powered his way over, but despite Pallister’s failure to add the extras, he later levelled the score at 20-20 with a penalty goal.

All Blacks pushed to win the match, but conceded a converted try against the run of play to finish the game at 26-20.

Luke Campbell was outstanding at full-back with Gary Sissons taking the man of the match award.

There was no game for New Earswick’s first team in the Pennine League championship.

Selby Warriors will meet Stanningley ‘A’ in the final of the Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy final after winning 52-34 at Woodhouse Warriors.

Selby Warriors ‘A’ succumbed to a walkover in division seven of the Pennine League, handing Odsal Sedbergh ‘A’ a 30-0 win.

Heworth ‘A’ produced a superb first half performance to win 42-24 against visitors Ryhill Hammers in the CMS Yorkshire League division three.

A spectacle of fast flowing rugby allowed the Villagers to lead 24-0 at the break, with tries from Mike Welsh, Sam Johnson, Karl Southerton, John Jackson and Rich Rogers, with a goal apiece for Tom Barron and Gary Watkinson.

The Hammers had the better of the second period and, despite the leadership of John Coulson, who was well supported by Rich Rogers and Dan Craig, they struggled to contain the visitors’ attacks.

However, tries from Jake Ripley, Coulson and a second for Johnson, plus three conversions by Watkinson, was enough to see Heworth home.

Ripley took the man of the match award but was run close by the efforts of Tom Atkin and Sam Johnson in a good team display.

Division two leaders York Acorn ‘A’ beat Batley Boys 38-16.