With eight Cumbrians making up a substantial part of the 20-strong England Community Lions squad, they played a vital part as the Lions delivered a 38-8 win over Wales Dragonhearts in St Helens on Saturday, writes Ben Challis.
The eight, from five different community clubs in Cumbria, were Aaron Turnbull and Sam Appleby from Egremont Rangers, Owen Hoyles from Ellenborough Rangers, Jake Pearce and Ellison Holgate from Wath Brow Hornets, Rio McQuistan and Jack Newbegin from Millom, and Noel Branthwaite from Hensingham, with Distington’s Gary Hewer part of the Lions core coaching team, and Pearce the Lions captain on the day.
The first 10 minutes were end-to-end, and if anything Wales seemed to have the edge, with Iestyn Williams-Jones held up on the line on the final tackle by some solid Lions’ defending.
As the two sides tested each other, England began to find a rhythm and on seventeen minutes Pearce dived through a sea of red bodies to touch down, with Ellenborough’s Owen Hoyles impressively converting in strong, cold, blustery winds.
As the first half progressed the rain hammered down, and five minutes later Wales bounced back when Jack Spedding pounced on a loose ball for an unconverted try.
The Lions now had to repeatedly defend to maintain their narrow lead, before they moved up the field and Hindley’s Joe Heaton twisted through the Wales line to slide over, with Hoyles again converting.
England upped their advantage as the first half came to a close, now in bright sunshine, as Wath Brow Hornet Holgate powered his way over the line, dragging two Wales defenders with him, with Hoyles again converting for a 18-4 lead for the Lions at Half Time.
Wales hit back right at the start of the second half as Jake Price battled his way over, but the try was again unconverted by Wales, and stout Lions defence kept the Dragonhearts at bay and their four point 12-8 lead intact for the following set, before England began to dominate.
A superb passing move across the field of play set up by a powerful Holgate charge, then a Branthwaite offload to Newbegin, and then an exquisite pass from Josh Parker that allowed Tyler Dargan to dive in on the right wing for a brilliantly executed if unconverted try was a pleasure to watch.
On the hour England extended their lead when the Leigh Miners Ranger Noah Lancelott benefitted from more excellent passing and weaved his way in for a the Lions’ fifth try. England’s lead began to look unassailable when Egremont’s Aaron Turnbull dived over, and the game and the win were sealed when Man of the Match, Hunslet’s Moris Kamano, crashed over for England’s seventh and final try, and with the in-form Hoyles back on kicking duties, his goal gave the Lions a deserved 38-8 win.
Hewer summed up the game by saying that despite the score line, it was a hard fought win played in typical Cumbrian weather with four seasons in one day.
He said that whilst every player contributed to the win, he was pleased with the Cumbrian player’s efforts against a strong, physical Welsh Team that featured some very experienced players. Hewer added that the international was a good test for the Lions but they handled the Dragonhearts well and, that the Lions’ skill shone through.
The Lions next meet Ireland A at the Morton Stadium in Dublin this Saturday, October 21, before a return match with the Dragonhearts in Port Talbot on October 28.
