DESPITE another spirited display, New Earswick All Blacks lost 28-10 at Cutsyke in the Yorkshire League senior and division one.

The hosts, however, were flattered by the scoreline.

The York side started well and went ahead when a superb Simon Mallarkey pass put Carl Pallister over.

All Blacks had the better of the game for the next quarter, but on 26 minutes Cutsyke took the lead with a converted interception try from within their own half.

Two minutes later it was 12-4 with a converted try and on 35 minutes the hosts were in again for another converted score.

But All Blacks hit back just before the break as a pass from full-back Andy Fletcher put impressive second row Pete Johnson over, Pallister converting.

Cutsyke made it 24-10 after the interval but All Blacks again came back and were unlucky several times not to score. However, a lack of discipline saw the visitors reduced to 11 men as captain Jez Petch was sin-binned for retaliation and Pallister followed for punching in the tackle.

Even so, All Blacks kept the pressure on and were unlucky to see Cutsyke score another breakway try in the last minute.

Jojo Hnesh was All Blacks' man of the match, followed by Tom Coomber and Phil Turpine. New Earswick were also indebted to former Heworth veteran Dave Meek who has come out of retirement.

Updated: 11:59 Monday, February 18, 2002