NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLC chairman Charles Rollinson has admitted their hopes of title glory have now ended following a second successive defeat.

The All Blacks lost 24-20 at home to Halifax Irish, succumbing to a late try after building a commanding position.

It was a similar story to last week with the York side again missing out on the rub of the green, not least with a penalty count of 18-8 against and a crucial second-half yellow card.

The result sees the All Blacks slip to fifth in the Pennine League premier division, six points off leaders Sharlston with four games to go.

Rollinson said: "That's the end of our title ambitions for this season without a doubt.

"We've had a great season for our first in the premier division, but the top and bottom of it is we won't be winning the championship this year."

All Blacks still have hopes of silverware as they visit Drighlington in the President's Cup semi-finals in a fortnight, though they will have to rediscover their top form to conquer the champions who are in the hunt for a league and cup double.

New Earswick began well against Halifax, dominating the first half with the wind behind them.

Half-back Ben Jones sold the defence a dummy to race 60 yards to the line, for Carl Pallister to convert. Then the roles were reversed as Pallister went over in the corner for Jones to goal from the touchline.

Centre Chris Spain sent winger Adam Ferry over out wide for a 16-0 lead before both sides had a player yellow-carded for fighting, prop Jamie Daniel being the All Black in the sin-bin.

Halifax scored a converted try soon after half-time but All Blacks went further in front at 20-6 as Jones and Spain combined to set up Ferry for his second try.

However, on 54 minutes, All Blacks second-row JoJo Hnesh was sin-binned after a flare-up off the ball and ten minutes later, Halifax were right back in it after two converted tries.

All Blacks looked set for a vital try when Jones intercepted and raced almost the length of the field but he was denied by a fabulous cover tackle and, with five minutes left, the visitors notched another converted try, their four conversions, compared to All Blacks' two, proving the difference.

All Blacks, for whom man of the match full-back Steve Perks and second-row Dan Wellard excelled, were camped on the visitors' line late on but the final whistle sounded to end their hopes of victory and the title.

York Acorn A' fell to a 40-16 defeat at Undercliffe in division three, while York Groves' division five game was cancelled as opponents Guiseley folded, with the walkover points lifting the Terriers back up to third but with only faint chances of promotion.