NEW Earswick All Blacks' fine knockout form continued as they beat East Hull 18-6 in the Tetley's Yorkshire Cup third round.

All Blacks, who had enjoyed easy passage to this stage as their two previous opponents both conceded the ties, reached round four and a home tie against Upton thanks to an excellent defensive show.

National Conference teams are no longer allowed in the Yorkshire Cup but East Hull, whose first team are going for glory in the National Conference League premier division, nevertheless have a strong 'A' team, who are currently lying second in the Hull and District League's premier division.

All Blacks, of Pennine League division one, saw them off at White Rose Avenue amid awful playing conditions, thanks in part to the boot of man of the match James Sanderson.

His three first-half penalties put the York side 6-0 up at the break and he also converted Liam Gargan's 52nd-minute try from wide out, the excellent Gargan having won the race to touch down Mick Harrison's clever kick.

East Hull, who had been denied by some sterling defence in the first half, came back into the game with ten minutes left with a converted try, but All Blacks were not to be denied.

Harrison just missed a drop goal attempt in a bid to put the tie safe but, with five minutes left, it was game over as Alan Pallister sent outstanding prop Eddie Keeping crashing over under the posts, with Dave Carling, in his second game back out of retirement, goaling.

York Groves' good early season form continued with a superb 32-1 win at Huddersfield Sharks 'A'.

The victory lifted the Terriers up to second in Pennine League division five, one point off Wetherby Bulldogs.

Groves bossed the opening half, scoring four converted tries, while strong defence prevented the Sharks from troubling the scoreboard.

Player-coach Simon Moat offloaded in the tackle to the impressive Danny Buy, whose strength took him through the full-back to the line, while four strong drives to the right then ended with the ball being spun left through five pairs of hands for Chris Corr to sprint 40 metres home.

Paul Watson was the architect of the next try, creating a gap then passing to Moat, who ploughed through.

As the Sharks' defence tired, diminutive scrum-half Dean Kilbride scored a trademark try, slipping through and out-pacing the full-back. Jason Dunn added all the conversions and a penalty just before half-time.

Groves added to their tally soon after the restart, Watson again supplying the killer pass for Moat, who was too strong for the defenders.

The Sharks never gave up and only excellent defence kept them try-less, though they did drop a goal late on.

Top performers for Groves were Paul Fairclough, Chris Smith and Matt Withers, while Neil Gulliver, due to lack of substitutes, played the last hour unable to run because of injury but still made valuable tackles.

Selby Warriors went down to a single-point loss at Wyke in division four, 16-15.

Updated: 10:10 Tuesday, October 11, 2005