Two Cumbrians had starring roles for the England Community Lions Under-23s when they defeated The Wales Dragonhearts 56-0 at St Helens.
Ellenborough Rangers’ Owen Hoyles and Wath Brow Hornets’ Jay Weatherall topped the points scoring with 12 apiece.
With eight Cumbrians in a squad of 20, Weatherall’s Wath Brown team mate Jake Pearce was co-captain on the day and led by example with a battling performance.
Kells Aaron Burns, who subsequently signed for Workington Town, and Egremont Rangers’ Aaron Turnbull were also on the scoresheet with a try apiece.
Other Cumbrians shone too as Hensingham’s Jack Kellett kicked two conversions, and Kells’ Mason Lewthwaite and Egremont’s Brad Long both played important roles in an outstanding team effort to deliver the win,
There was the added bonus of newly appointed Cumbrian Lions’ coach Gary Hewer on the touchline.
England started well as three West Hull team-mates Elliott Jones, Luke Moss and Tom Burke combined smoothly down the left wing to allow Burke to dive in by the corner flag for an unconverted try.
This score was followed by Welsh pressure on the England try line, but the Lions repelled the Dragonhearts and on eleven minutes the Lions scored their second try as Turnbull twisted over to score, with Kellett converting.
The Lions could have done better, and handling mistakes cost them two good opportunities to score, but they then ran in two quick tries with Jack McShane and Jones both touching down.
Just before half time the Lions extended the lead to 24-0 with a try from Burns, with an excellent conversion from fellow Cumbrian Kellett.
The second half followed a similar pattern, and better handling and discipline set up Weatherall to use his speed and agility to run in on the right wing.
Jones zig-zagged his way over for his second; Weatherall produced another right wing charge to score and Jake Roberts crashed through the Dragonheart’s line and managed to force the ball to ground despite the attentions of the Welsh defence.
England reached fifty points when Hoyles sprinted free to dot down, adding his third goal of the afternoon, and in the final minute Weatherall went in for his hat trick and Hoyles added his fourth goal for a convincing eleven try Lions’ win.
