TWELVE-MAN New Earswick All Blacks fought back against the odds to clinch a thrilling 15-14 victory over National Conference League division two rivals York Acorn at Thanet Road.

It was the second successive week that All Blacks had relied on a last-gasp drop goal to win the match.

Last week against Normanton it came from the boot of Mick Harrison, this time Harrison set up Carl Pallister to bang over the one pointer with two minutes remaining.

It was a fitting finale to a tense derby battle which had seen both sides get the better of a half.

Acorn must have fancied their chances of gaining revenge for last season's double defeat when they led 14-6.

Their hopes were enhanced even further three minutes before the break when Earswick hooker Martin McTigue was sent off for treading on an Acorn player.

That should have been enough for Acorn, who had played some enterprising rugby in the first half and were deservedly in front at the interval. But they were unable to show the same attacking prowess in the second half while All Blacks stepped up a gear.

Their defence held solid and prevented Acorn from getting any further points on the board. And, led by the creative force of Harrison, New Earswick began to whittle away Acorn's lead until full-back Dave Carling levelled matters ten minutes from time with a penalty.

Both sides then attempted drop goals in the closing stages before Pallister finally found the target to complete another remarkable All Blacks win.

It was New Earswick who opened the scoring after six minutes when loose forward John Leach broke through some poor tackling from 25 yards to crash over.

Acorn skipper Lee Frank and Carling exchanged penalties before the Blue and Golds went in front for the first time, young stand-off Michael Embleton jinking over from close range and Frank adding the extras from in front of the sticks.

Then an Acorn chip evaded two players in the end zone and winger John Hough dropped on the ball to score, Frank again slotting over the conversion.

The second half was all New Earswick and, after Carling had closed the gap with a simple penalty, they worked the ball out to the wing where Lee Nelson took Jez Petch's pass to score in the corner, despite a desperate lunge by Hough.

Carling's missed conversion left All Blacks two points adrift but it was anybody's game in a frantic few minutes.

It was New Earswick who came up with goods to leave Acorn looking towards the return clash on November 26 for their next chance of revenge - and their first derby win in four attempts.

Acorn: R Calam, Hough, Willitts, Lloyd, Wilcox, Embleton, Liddell, Crake, Waldron, Soulsby, Norman, Blackburn, Frank. Subs (all used): Morrow, Warren, M Calam, Fox.

All Blacks: Carling, Wellard, Pallister, Petch, Nelson, M Harrison, Malarkey, R Harrison, Martin McTigue, Daniel, Rhodes, Mick McTigue, Leach. Subs (all used): Tipping, Daniel, Boitoit, Harris.

PICTURE: OUCH: An Acorn player, left, feels the force of a tackle from his New Earswick opponent