New Earswick All Blacks under-14s shone in the club’s annual gala and rugby league festival.

The first match saw New Earswick take on city neighbours Heworth and it was a tough game for both sides, with excellent ball work and defending seeing All Blacks win.

New Earswick then played Stanley Rangers, whose size, speed, ball-work and crunching defence yielded several tries against the vanquished home ranks.

Heworth suffered several injuries in the first game so it was decided to mix Heworth and some bravehearts from New Earswick to again tackle the mighty Stanley.

Stern defence from the York ranks helped to put them three tries to one ahead at half-time.

However, after three backto- back games, the New Earswick braves tired and Stanley countered to clinch the last match.

The day was an excellent advertisement for rugby league and especially York.

In the U8s, Castleford Lock Lane won an event featuring the hosts, Stanley, Heworth and Townville.

Heworth, though, were unbeaten, a success built on fantastic defence and a good completion rate.

They drew 1-1 with Lock Lane, Kian Oliver crashing over for Heworth, and then beat Townville 2-1 with tries from Jak Ostergaard and Callum Rutland, Stanley 3-1 with Ostergaard, Rutland and Oliver crossing, and then the hosts 2-0, Oliver and Rutland scoring.

Kane Cavanagh, Niall Bowlby, Callum Dunmore, Myles Harrison and Alex Bell also impressed.

Stanley Rangers triumphed in the U10s which also saw Heworth, Lock Lane, Townville, Oulton Vaders, York Acorn and New Earswick participating.

Rangers also won the U11s against Acorn, New Earswick and Wetherby, while honours in the U12s competition were seized by Lock Lane against teams from Heworth, Shaw Cross and New Earswick.

With just two teams in the U13s competition, it was turned into a friendly involving New Earswick and Whinmoor with New Earswick winning 34-4.