YORK Acorn and New Earswick All Blacks demonstrated the rugby league ability in the city’s youth ranks when playing out a thrilling Yorkshire League Under-16s division one clash – which was decided at the death.

Reece Rushworth’s hat-trick try for Acorn had put the hosts 22-14 up but All Blacks came back late on to level and, in a see-saw finale, grabbed the winner with the last play of the game.

Acorn spokesman Alan Havercroft said: “It was a pulsating, crowd-pleasing spectacle, as both sides fought an intense battle.”

All Blacks manager John Shaw said: “We were a bit lucky to win it. We were slow to start but in the last 20 the lads found themselves.”

New Earswick were first to score and, while Acorn struck back as Rushworth crashed over from dummy-half, Jake Calam converting, the visitors retook the lead when exploiting rare defensive errors.

End-to-end rugby entertained a sizeable crowd, and the hosts were rewarded just before half-time when Jacob Walker showed his pace and strength to cross, Calam’s goal giving Acorn a 12-10 lead.

New Earswick regained the lead after the interval, but tenacious Calam McDarby carries made headway against a strong defence and Acorn’s kicking game kept Earswick on the back foot, the pressure paying off when Rushworth broke the line for his second try.

Rushworth’s third came with ten minutes to go – but All Blacks stormed back with those three late tries.