ROUND 3: VICTORY ON THE ROAD – WEST CRAVEN WARRIORS v NEW EARSWICK ALL BLACKS ARLFC: Saturday 26th April -
Match Report: NEAB v West Craven Warriors
Date: Saturday 26th April 2025
Venue: Victory Park, West Craven
Round Three Yorkshire Men’s League Division 3
Victory On The Road!
The New Earswick All Blacks returned to action in the Yorkshire men’s league this weekend away at West Craven Warriors aiming to register back-to-back wins in the league after defeating Bradford Wyke at home two weeks ago.
Conditions were great at Victory Park to allow a good game of rugby league to be played, and we were not disappointed as both teams went toe to toe in the first half producing a highly contested first half, scoring some quality tries.
It was the hosts who opened the scoring after both teams went set for set in the first 15 minutes. However, a quick response for the All Blacks saw winger Dean Smith go over in the right corner to level the scores. It was last tackle and the ball was played 35 metres out from the Warriors try-line, but the All Blacks elected to run the ball as Sean Malarkey saw space to play to and called for the attack to be moved to the right. Malarkey received a wide pass from standoff Conor Calem and he released Adam Blatchley on the outside who found his winger Dean Smith. Smith did a tremendous job to take on and beat the cover defence from the fullback to score in the right corner.
The Warriors who had the wind behind them in the first half seemed to be making more metres going forward and winning the field position battle which saw them cross the whitewash again and take the lead. But the All Blacks stuck to task and showed the quality of rugby they can play when once again we saw man of the match Conor Calam link up with his backrow partner Sean Malarkey. A wonderful attacking play was set up by the All Blacks playing from left to right. Half-back Ewen Coverdale found Calam out the back who then played a neat short pass to Malarkey who timed his run to perfection to break the line and reconnect with Calam back on the inside who was in support to score under the posts, converting his own try to give the All Blacks a two-point lead.
But the Warriors would not lie down and with minutes remaining in the first half they powered their way over for another try on their right-hand side. A missed conversion from the touchline saw the hosts holding onto a slender 2-point lead at half-time.
Both teams displayed excellent ball control and discipline which allowed for a free flowing first half and a tight contest, with both sides aiming to do the same in the second half.
Thankfully, it was the All Blacks that were able to maintain this more than their counterparts which saw the All Blacks score three second half tries and the Warriors managing to score one.
The All Blacks started the second half with more intent which saw Coverdale in close support make a line break from back field after two strong initial carries laid the platform. Not long after saw Centre Iain Oakley score a brilliant individual try from the scrum 20 metres out from the Warriors try-line. He had no right to score but showed tremendous strength and power to brush aside and carry defenders over the try-line with him.
Next saw Adam Blatchley score the first of his brace of tries as once again the All Blacks enjoyed good position. The attack was moved to the right-hand side once again and saw Blatchley come back against the grain on a drop off play and expose tired defenders to score a brilliant try. The All Blacks were dominating the second half and on top but only held a six-point lead due to only converting one of the tries scored at this point.
The game looked like it was going to be put to bed when Blatchley looked like he had scored his second of the afternoon only for the referee to call that he had knocked on over the try line resulting in a 7-tackle set for the Warriors. The hosts reacted and transitioned quickly which put the All Blacks on the back foot and a few plays later were awarded a penalty. The next set saw the Warriors use a big body close to the try-line to power over once again. The try was converted making the score-line 18-18 with ten minutes remaining.
It was the All Blacks who had dominated most of the second half to have the final say with Blatchley collecting a loose ball from a kick and racing away to finish in the right corner to win the game for the All Blacks.
Head coach Paul Meilam felt with the adversity faced having some positional changes going into the game and losing a couple of players to injury during the game this was the best win of the season so far. He was impressed with half-back Conor Calam who directed the team well in the absence of Liam Gargan and had a strong performance.
Plenty to be proud of as an All Blacks fan as we saw the team play some excellent attacking rugby and once again demonstrate a competitive spirit and togetherness.
The All Blacks will be back in action at home on the 10th May as they face Birstall Victoria in round four of the Yorkshire men’s league.
All Blacks Team: Lancashire, Telford, Oakley, Blatchley, Smith, Calam, Coverdale, Shaw, Iddon, Hutchinson, Malarkey, Leach, Gibson. Subs: Carling, Starkey, Fernandez, Williams
The Bob Bradford Man of the Match: Conor Calam – Sponsored by Yorkshire Scaffolding Services
Half-time: 12-10
Tries: Dean Smith (Sponsored by The Brick Doctor), Conor Calam (Sponsored by Yorkshire Scaffolding Services)
Conversions – Calam 1/2 (Sponsored by Yorkshire Scaffolding Services)
Second- half: 0-12
Tries – Oakley, Blatchley x 2
Conversions – Calam 0/3
Full Time: 22-1