JIM Mulroney marked his long-awaited return with a try as New Earswick All Blacks ARLC saw off lowly Birkenshaw 24-6.

It was an under-par performance from the York side but still comfortable enough to lift them to third in Pennine League division one, still with games in hand.

The first quarter was error-strewn in torrential rain but ended with All Blacks taking the lead when second-row Mulroney, in his first game for a year after a long injury lay-off, forced his way over, Ben Jones adding his first of two conversions.

Centre Daryl Fogg pounced on a loose ball to make it 10-0 at the break and, although the spirited Bradford outfit, who remain second bottom of the table, hit back with a try after the restart, All Blacks soon made the game safe.

The outstanding Fogg got his second try out wide before the best score of the match saw Alan Pallister make a 30-yard break and stand up in the tackle to feed man of the match second-row Dan Wellard, who raced 20 yards to the line. Pallister wrapped up the win with a last-minute try under the posts.

York Acorn 'A' fell to a shock 15-14 defeat at bottom club Hollinwood in division three - the first victory of the season for the hosts - while York Groves' promotion hopes in division five were dealt a blow with a 16-0 loss at Park Amateurs 'A'.

Selby Warriors reached the third round of the Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy with a walkover against Cowling Harlequin.

Heworth 'A' made it four straight wins when overpowering Hunslet Warriors 'A' 36-10 in an entertaining Yorkshire League division three clash.

The result lifted Heworth to third, though they have played more games than their rivals.

Fit-again Paddy Gill crashed over to put the hosts ahead and, after being denied by tenacious tackling, they upped their lead when a great Gary Watkinson pass sent in Gareth Kirby. Substitute Danny Sinclair then latched on to a shrewd kick from Brendan Carlyle to race 50 metres to the posts, with Watkinson adding three conversions for an 18-0 half-time lead.

Hunslet grabbed a try but Kirby sent Watkinson crashing over and, although the visitors crossed again and converted, Heworth - with youngsters Sean Bailey, Ben Eastwood, Sam Johnson and Sean Holmes continuing their improvement - sealed the win with converted tries from Joe Murphy and Wayne Foster.

Updated: 09:54 Tuesday, December 06, 2005