N Earswick All Blacks 10, Castleford Panthers 9

Lack of discipline probably cost Panthers this National Conference League division two game, with the penalty count weighing heavily in favour the All Blacks favour.

Both sides took to the field knowing that a win was vital, and the tackling from both sides was so keen that the game went 35 minutes before there was a score.

It came from the boot of Carl Pallister after a high tackle on an All Blacks attacker.

This score seemed to add even further bite to the Panthers' game and they scored a try on 40 minutes to take the lead.

Jamie Ben, unusually, had an off-day with his kicking and failed to convert.

The All Blacks hit back with a penalty by Pallister after three minutes of stoppage time had been played, making it 4-4 at half time.

The second half was much the same as the first until Panthers' big second row forward Kear was dismissed for throwing a punch at Jamie Danial.

This incident seemed to inspire Panthers and they came hard at the All Blacks to score a try in the corner, which once again Ben failed to convert.

Panthers went further ahead when Ben dropped a well taken field goal, making it 9-4.

Substitute Simon Malarky made a break for the All Blacks and turned a lovely inside ball to Mick Harrison which opened the Panthers' defence for the first time.

Mick Harrison jinked by the remaining defender to score under the posts, making the conversion by Carl Pallister an easy one.

In the remaining minutes Panthers threw everything into attack, but the All Blacks' defence held out until the final whistle.

Outstanding for All Blacks was the man of the match Jamie Danial, closely followed by John Leach, Mick Harrison and Carl Barrow.

Dragons are too hot for Acorn

York Acorn found the going tough against National Conference second division leaders Eastmoor Dragons.

The table-toppers ran out 32-6 victors a win that kept them two points clear of West Bowling, while Acorn are still a point adrift at the bottom.

They trailed by just six points at the interval but then Eastmoor cut loose in the second period.

Centre Jim Ganley grabbed the limelight and raced in for a hat-trick of tries for the hot Dragons.

There was also a try for winger Andy Hodgson and former Castleford professional Keith England also powered over the line and prop Stuart Turton added three goals.

Acorn, well served by second rower Barry Fox and stand off Danny Liddell, finally got on the board when winger Gareth lloyd chipped over and regathered to score and Lee Frank added the goal.

There was no game for division one outfit Heworth, whose home game against Siddal was postponed due to the state of the pitch.

The game had been under threat as 16 of Heworth's 18-man first team squad had threatened to strike in support of coach Keith Loft, who has been suspended for two years by the Conference side for a breach of club rules.

Heworth were confident they would have fielded a team against Siddal, but former first grade referee Dave Asquith ruled the pitch unfit after consultation with both Heworth and Siddal officials.

"We desperately wanted to play but everyone agreed that the ground was just not fit," said Heworth official Ken Sykes.

"We would have been able to field a team, though weakened, and it was not the case that we did not want to play the game."

The players at the club are due to meet with Heworth officials tomorrow night in an attempt to resolve the problems at the club, and it is expected that Loft will also lodge an appeal against his ban.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.