The University Rugby League GB Pioneers have just returned from their development tour to Hungary, where they spent nine days supporting the Hungarian Rugby League Federation (HRLF) in growing Rugby League in the country.
The GB Pioneers flew out to the capital, Budapest, on Friday 22 July, knowing they had little over 24 hours to prepare for the test against Hungary RL XIII on Saturday 23 July - the 5th anniversary of the start of Rugby League in Hungary.
A pre-tour training camp in Hull the previous weekend had laid the foundations for the travelling party to gel, but the East Yorkshire climate had not prepared them for the temperatures of central Europe in the middle of summer!
Game day, it's going to be a hot one! Players settled in well at training last night pic.twitter.com/xyIPSfmrvi
— GB Pioneers (@GBPioneers) July 23, 2016
The HRLF had been hard at work preparing the ground for the fifth-anniversary test match, with the pitch and stadium in top condition.
The national anthems added further to the spectacle, with a rendition of God Save the Queen from the GB Pioneers preparing them for kick off.
The referee for the afternoon was student referee Dylan Ward, who was joining the touring party for the first time, a proud moment for Dylan as he got the game underway to a large cheer from the crowd, who were keen to see the home nation put on a good show.
The GB Pioneers' defence was quick off the mark, showing no side effects from the short turnaround since arriving.
And they were quickly on the scoresheet, with the first try coming of the back of a line break down the middle by Elliot Townsend, before he passed to the supporting Mark Cordeaux who dashed over to break the deadlock.
Ryan Scholes added the extras, then the second try came from the kick off - the Pioneers' backs worked the ball wide for Louis Ford to touch down.
Then the GB forwards rumbled forward, helping set up Iestyn Withers, whose try made it 14-0, Scholes converting.
After the initial shock of the speed of the game, the Hungarian team began to find their way and held out for a period, before Aaron Levy hit a good line to find a gap and score under the posts, Scholes with the goal.
Then came another quick try from kick off set, Liam Jackson going over, before Scholes bagged a try himself, which he converted.
In the 32-degree heat, the Pioneers remained on top and Lewis Davy was next to score, before Josh Hill ran from dummy half to go over, Scholes converting, to leave the tourists 42-0 up at half time.
Hungary improved in the second period and proved to be almost impossible to breach through the middle.
But there was success to be had out wide, Ford galloping in with half an hour to play, goaled by Scholes.
Scholes kicked again after Davy went over, then prop Cordeaux ran 50 metres to score after powering through a gap.
Then, in a devestating period, Ford completed his hat-trick, Jackson also added a try shortly after with Ford then crossing for his fourth - all tries coming out wide after strong middle defence from the Hungarians.
Ford then capped off his Man of the Match performance with a fifth try, Scholes converting to wrap up a fine 80-0 win.
Great post game photo after the 1st test game yesterday!!! #GBpioneers pic.twitter.com/jyGZRQg1Gz
— GB Pioneers (@GBPioneers) July 24, 2016
Steve Curtis, GB Pioneers Team Manager, said: "Despite the scoreline, the Hungarian team were physical, committed and had good structure in attack.
"The main difference between the two teams proved to be the GB Pioneers' experience and knowledge. The game was played in great spirit and an excellent display of Rugby League to the local crowd.
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But the tour was much more than the 80 minutes.
With seven days still left of the tour, the HRLF and GB Pioneers' management had prepared a packed itinerary to ensure the tourists could maximise the reach of their tour and, at the same time, enjoy the sights of Budapest and Hungary.
The Pioneers spent time training both as a squad and with the Hungarian players, developing both their own skills and knowledge to take back to their University clubs, and teaching the hosts about Rugby League.
GB were also introduced to Eurotag, a development version of Touch Rugby League which the Hungarians have been using to widen the appeal of Rugby League to new markets.
This was followed by a tournament the next day which even saw the staff dust of their boots to add an additional team to the competition!
A great event for all involved, followed by some traditional schnitzels at the Hungarians' local post-training food establishment.
The remaining daily training sessions were geared towards building up to the 9s tournament in Szentes - a town in the Great Plain region in the south of Hungary where Rugby League had never been played before.
To miximise its success, HRLF and GB Pioneer management agreed to mixed the two squads in to three teams, playing an exhibitions 9s round robin followed by a 20-minute 13 a-side exhibition to provide a Rugby League showpiece as finale to 25-year celebration of the host club, Rugby Club 91.
The RL exhibition was well received by spectators and club officials alike, with all enjoying homemade Goulash after the game.
The Rugby Club 91 chairman is now committed to bringing Rugby League back to the region as soon as possible.
As well as developing Rugby League during the tour, the GB Pioneers had some time to enjoy the tourist elements of Hungary, taking in the sites of Budapest including visiting a 200 year old thermal baths, Hero's Square, a yacht trip on Lake Balaton, followed by a Vineyard tour and swimming in the River Tisa.
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Curtis added: "The GB Pioneers had a fantastic time in Hungary and we would like to thank our hosts, the HRLF, for being such great hosts.
"Hungary is a great country with a lot of potential for Rugby League to grow - an excellent addition to the Rugby League family."
Commenting on the tour, RFL Higher Education Manager Adam Hughes said: "The Pioneers took a party of 20 players from University Rugby League.
"The tour always consists of coaching clinics with community clubs and players and it was a great success.
"A big thanks go to Steve Curtis, Richard Tate, Keith Sandhu, Ollie O'Mara and Matthew Duke who formed the off-field team, along with young match official Dylan Ward, who was invited on the tour due to his commitment to the Student game throughout the year."
The GB Pioneers 2016 Squad: David Harrison (Bristol), Martyn Steel (Leicester), Iestyn Withers, Liam Curnow (Cardiff Met), Lewis Davey (Leeds Trinity), Louis Ford (Swansea), Ben Lines (Oxford Brookes), Tim Smith (University of Hertfordshire), Matt Bell (Durham), Liam Jackson (Loughborough), Ryan Scholes (Bradford), Josh Hill (Salford), Bowden Morgan, Aaron Levy (Newcastle), Mark Cordeaux (Sheffield), Angus Parkin (Liverpool), Corie Shorrock (Bangor), Matt McKelvey (Belfast Met), Elliot Townsend (Hull), Josh Tucker (Durham).
#GrowingOurGame
