NEW Earswick All Blacks were still on cloud nine today after they registered the shock of the GMB Union National Cup third round with a tremendous defeat of Askam.

Club chairman Charles Rollinson described it simply as a "brilliant win" after his side, flying high in Pennine League division two, overcame effectively a four-tier gap to beat the National Conference League division one outfit 19-8 at White Rose Avenue.

There seemed only one major dampener for the York club as Carl Pallister suffered a horrific-looking head or neck injury when setting up their third try, with play being held up for 20 minutes as an ambulance was called to take him to hospital. However, victory celebrations were renewed when the player returned to the clubhouse after being given the all-clear by doctors.

All Blacks took the lead in the second minute when a high ball by Pallister was caught by winger Paul Dooley, who swapped passes with Ben Jones before scoring in the corner. Pallister converted from the touchline.

Two minutes later, Dave Carling, seeing there was nothing on on the last tackle, slotted a drop goal.

An Askam penalty brought the Cumbrians back into it at 7-2 but the All Blacks' defence was superb for the rest of the half, with Jamie Daniel, Alan Pallister, Chris Judge and Eddie Keeping to the fore.

And the home side then scored right on the interval when centre Dave Calam shot over from acting-half.

The crucial first try of the second half went All Blacks' way on 46 minutes when a superb pass from Carl Pallister sent Calam over. Instant celebrations were subdued as Pallister lay motionless after an apparently late tackle.

Once play resumed, Carling booted the conversion and soon added a penalty for a 19-2 lead.

Askam bagged a converted try on the hour to give them hope but the only time they broke through the line, full-back Carling was there to take the winger to ground and All Blacks held on for a memorable win.

Scrum-half Ben Jones was man of the match, pushed close by Daniel and Judge.

York Groves will be anxiously looking over their shoulders in Pennine League division five after losing 16-14 at strugglers Clayton 'A'.

The hosts, lying second bottom, had only won once in ten games but are now just three points behind the Terriers, who suffered another blow as they lost prop Andy Starkey to a serious knee injury midway through the first half.

Both teams defied the heavy pitch with some good open play, with Clayton taking an early lead with a penalty and unconverted try.

Groves levelled just before half-time. Danny Buy put substitute Paul Scott through a gap and, with the cover defence arriving, he fed centre Chris Thompson to go over in the corner, Jason Dunn converting.

Groves drew first blood in the second half as the outstanding Paul Fairclough off-loaded to Scott, who drove through the defence to the line.

Clayton drew level after a cross-field movement, but Groves regained the lead when Dunn threw an over-the-head basketball-style pass to Thompson for his second try.

However, with ten minutes remaining, Groves lost their composure when Clayton scored under the posts. The conversion was added to confirm the difference between the two sides.

Top performers for the Terriers were Dave Westwick, and, on his return from working abroad, full-back Paul Marshall.

Selby Warriors maintained their lead at the top with a 42-0 thrashing of Park Amateurs, while division four leaders York Acorn 'A', who were not in action, saw second-placed Wyke close the gap to two points by beating Thornton 24-21.

Updated: 09:43 Tuesday, January 18, 2005