New Earswick All Blacks Under 14s are within touching distance of the Yorkshire League title after a 22-18 injury-time victory over big title rivals Upton.

If they win at Drighlington in their final game then All Blacks should take the crown as they have a superior points difference to Hunslet Parkside, the only other club able to match their points tally.

All Blacks clinched victory over Upton in the closing stages after falling behind to a try and a goal early on.

Jack French's 12th-minute try and Danny Pfluger's kick drew All Blacks level before Jack Goodaker went over for Pfluger to tag on the extras to make it 12-6.

But Upton created an overlap to score a try under the posts to make it all square at the interval.

Upton then forged ahead four minutes into the second period with a converted try.

But the tension mounted as French cut the arrears with a New Earswick try but his side were two points adrift as the conversion was missed.

Then, in the final minute of injury time, scrum half Liam Gargan fed centre Goodaker, who touched down under the sticks and Plfluger added the conversion.

Updated: 11:16 Tuesday, April 09, 2002