All Blacks 28, Ovenden 26

A penalty four minutes from time by Dave Carling clinched victory for injury-hit New Earswick All Blacks and sent Ovenden to the bottom of the National Conference second division.

After the previous week's 78-4 trouncing by Eccles, the All Blacks, again missing several first teamers, were in desperate need of a morale-boosting performance.

Despite Ovenden's lowly league position, this was never going to be easy for the All Blacks but they dug deep to produce a display full of spirit which sets them up well for next week's tough trip to London Skolars.

Back row forward Lee McTigue overcame a calf strain to lead the pack superbly and help the All Blacks to a 12-10 half-time lead.

Stand off Mick Harrison, a surprise inclusion in the team after picking up a shoulder injury, and hooker Brad Atkinson both touched down in the first half, converted by Carling, to edge them ahead of the visitors who replied with tries from Tim Porter and John Craven, and a conversion by Steve Taylor.

It was a similar story in the second half as All Blacks loose forward Dave O'Connell raced 30 metres to extend their lead after the restart only for Danny O'Farrell to pull back a Taylor-goaled try for Ovenden.

Carl Pallister again gave the All Blacks the advantage with a try which Carling converted but Ovenden refused to cave in and Bob Saunders touched down ten minutes from time.

A Carling penalty was replied to by a John Dowlan try and Taylor conversion to tie the scores at 26-26 before a head high tackle set up Carling for the match winning kick.

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