A dominant first 20 minutes from England Lions sealed a win against Wales Dragonhearts who failed to adapt to the torrential conditions.

The Lions, selected from all teams in the English community game, had gelled superbly and established an unassailable 30-0 lead after only 19 minutes. Wath Brow Hornets’ centre Karl Dixon had launched the assault after only three minutes, with fullback Brett Turner of West Hull following suit some three minutes later.

Second row Tommy Parkinson (Leigh Miners Rangers) and West Hull hooker Callum Windley served up a double-whammy of their own, spanning the twelfth and fourteenth minutes, and Wales looked destined for a real hiding when Lock Lane prop Chris Siddons crashed over, Wath Brow centre Fran King adding his fifth conversion from as many attempts.

To their credit, however, Wales limited the Lions to just one more try – by Dixon, on 25 minutes – before the interval.

The visitors, after falling further behind to a try by Kells loose forward Tony Burns three minutes after the resumption, pretty much matched their hosts for the final quarter or so. Bridgend winger Lewis Hughes offloaded to Raiders prop Harry Boots for the new Scorpions’ under 20 signing to open the Dragonhearts’ account on 58 minutes, Torfaen fullback Matt Cummins adding the extras.

Wigan St Patrick’s centre Earl Hurst and Siddons notched tries for English Lions by way of response, King’s conversions helping the side hit the half-century, before Hughes claimed Wales’ second touchdown.

The home side, however, had the last word with Hurst’s second try and King’s eighth goal.

ENGLAND LIONS
Brett Turner, Gareth Blackburn, Fran King, Karl Dixon, Earl Hurst, Shaun Garrod, Paul Brearley, Chris Siddons, Callum Windley, Kieron Harrison, Tommy Parkinson, Caldon Bravo, Tony Burns, Tommy Harrison, Iain Davies, Simon Atherton, Darryl Kay

WALES DRAGONHEARTS
Matt Cummins, Nathan Beck, Scott Gregory, Dan Fox, Lewis Hughes, Lee Goddard, Shane Lee, Gethin King, Dean Higgs, Jack Thomas, Lewis Wilkes, Chris True, Owain Davies, Ethan Coombs, Harry Boots, Morgan Jefferies, Daf Phillips