NEW Earswick All Blacks put on their best 40 minutes' display of the season to beat Crigglestone 34-10 and go clear at the top of Pennine League division two.

The All Blacks led only 14-0 at the break and, as they faced a gale-force wind in the second half, there were fears this lead might not be enough.

But they played some superb stuff to score another 20 points before Crigglestone finally got on the scoreboard with two late tries from kicks through.

Former York Wasps hooker Alan Pallister was architect of the first-half scoring as his passes led to tries for second-row Jamie Rhodes, centre Dan Wellard and Chris Judge with full-back Dave Carling adding a goal to the latter from in front of the posts.

Led by man-of-the- match Rhodes, hard-working prop Mark Boitoit and Pallister, New Easrwick continued to call the tune after the interval.

Scrum-half Ben Jones got over under the posts, Carling converting, and just before the hour-mark Rhodes embarked on a 40-yard break and, when it looked like he was wrapped up, he got the ball inside for Carling to score and also add the extras.

Five minutes later Rhodes raced 40 yards past three would-be tacklers and passing out to player-coach Simon Baynes, who rolled back the years on a 30-yard dash to the line.

Substitute Steve Harris, making a rare appearance, had a hand in the final All Blacks try, passing to Carling who broke forward and put in Jez Petch.

York Groves restored some pride against local rivals Wetherby Bulldogs albeit in defeat as they went down 20-12.

Wetherby, who are third in Pennine League division five, hammered the Terriers 35-0 only last month but the York side gave a much better display this time and, but for a ten-minute spell immediately after half-time when Wetherby ran in three tries, could have won the game.

The Bulldogs took an early lead but Paul Fentiman powered over to level by the break.

Those awful ten minutes for Groves the ensued and saw Wetherby lead 20-4, and it looked like another mauling was on the cards.

But hard-working prop Neil Gulliver and loose-forward Paul Fairclough stood up to be counted and led the Groves fight-back which brought two tries for Chris Thompson.

He went in for his first after a classic passing movement, Chris Corr supplying the final pass, and his second saw him again touch down in the right corner.

Jason Dunn missed all three conversions but he topped the tackle count and was a top performer along with veteran Gary Hill.

Leaders Selby Warriors maintained the healthy gap to Wetherby in the promotion race by hammering lowly Clayton 'A' 46-16.

York Acorn 'A' team's winning run in division four came to an end as they lost 26-20 at home to mid-table Drighlington 'A'. They stayed top, though, on points-difference from Wyke who have played two games more, although Undercliffe can now overtake them if they win their games in hand.

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, February 15, 2005