GHANA RL 4 GB STUDENT PIONEERS 46 – El Wak Stadium, Accra
Pioneers opened impressively, skipper Jonny Morris forcing a drop out from the kick off and then stepping his way over for the opening score, but missing the conversion. The visitors went further ahead when a superb offload by Ryan Dowsett set up a well-worked move down the left which saw Jamie Parks cross, Ryan Lee goaling. Second rower Sam Swire crashed through for their third try, Lee again on target to make it 16-0 but the re-invigorated home pack hit back.

Sweeping the ball wide, Francis Donkor broke and gave a superb pass, winger Andrew Ouaye taking full advantage and darting over out wide for Ghana’s first international try, Sani Alhassan unable to add the extras. Ten minutes of hard-hitting defence kept the tourists at bay but Ghana’s inexperience showed when they kicked on the first tackle presenting Morris with the opportunity to send Swire in for his second try, Lee converting.

Full back Morris skipped clear again but was caught by opposite number Adu Abougye who held on too long in the tackle and was sin-binned, but Francis Lawson with a good clearing run to avert further danger and prop Colestos Bosaka who was held up saw Ghana in the ascendancy going in to the break.

Ouaye did well to field a towering kick at the start of the second half but the Pioneers increased their lead when Joe Kenny broke and sent Morris in and two sets later, prop Andy Joy ran a great line to score, Lee goaling both. As Ghana began to tire, Morris claimed his hat trick spotting a gap at dummy half and Nik Zalad put him over for a fourth and his side’s eighth touchdown, Lee landing his seventh goal.

GHANA
Adu Abougye, Andrew Quaye, Francis Donkor, Marshall Nortey, Francis Lawson, Hanza Suleiman, Sani Alhassan, Kennith Boateng, Philip Asomani, Colestos Bosaka, Idriis Soleiman, Lebovan Ibrahim, Jason Dzata. Subs: Prince Boama, Gideon Khosey, Adams Opelei, Razaq Seidu

Try: Quaye

GREAT BRITAIN STUDENT PIONEERS
 Jonny Morris (C), Adam Cunliffe, Dave O'Connor, Jamie Park, Jimmy Rodger, Ryan Lee, Sean Pattimore, Andy Joy, Jono Burns, Phil Heath,-Ryan Dowsett, Sam Swire, Josh Dolan. Subs: Callum Williamson, Nik Zalad, Joe Kenny, Ed Linford

Tries: Morris 4, Swire 2, Parks, Joy. Goals: Lee 7

Beforehand, U18 sides from Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary and Armed Forces Secondary played the first ever inter-school rugby league match. PBS dominated first half possession but the AFS defence was superb meaning the sides turned around scoreless. The second half followed a similar pattern, with personal pride taken in defence at the expense of attack, PBS coming closest with a 40 metre break that was ended by a despairing, last-ditch tackle. The game ending 0-0 but with much encouragement for the future.