The England Lions u23s battled the odds to finish seventh overall in the Commonwealth Championship 9s Rugby League tournament in Moreton Bay last week.
After a rain-soaked group stage saw the Lions, a squad selected from the country's leading community clubs, clash with Samoa in game one, losing 28-10 in a hard-hitting start to their campaign - Orrell St James' Sam Baggaley and Sam Rochford from Underbank Rangers with the England tries.
Tonga, eventual silver medalists, were their opponents in game two.
And it was a bright start for the Lions as captain Danny Ryding made a blistering break upfield, before Frankie Halton forced his way over on the next play to hand England an early 6-0 lead.
They led 6-4 at the break but two breakaway tries from Tonga in the second period meant the islanders took the spoils.
That winning feeling ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸŽ¶ðŸ˜„ pic.twitter.com/yu5XmJFniZ
— England Lions RL (@lions_rl) February 23, 2018
With the weather deteriorating, England lined up against Papua New Guinea u23s in their final match of day one.
While rain affected PNG's expansive style, England kept handling errors to a minimum.
But it was PNG who held a 4-0 lead at the break thanks to a late first-half try.
However, England found their form in the second half and ran in three quickfire tries to turn the game on its head.
Underbank's Owen Restall got the first, before Liam Quinn from Thatto Heath Crusaders pounced after a PNG error.
Then Sam Baggaley got his second of the day with a fine long-range interception try to round off a hard-earned win over the reigning Commonwealth champions.
BAGGALEY ON 🔥
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) February 23, 2018
Sam Baggaley ran in this beauty for @lions_rl against Papua New Guinea at the Commonwealth Championships this morning... pic.twitter.com/2KCWDSyPSQ
Day two kicked off with a local derby against Wales, where a win for England would have sealed a place in the Commonwealth Shield final against Scotland.
Wigan St Judes' Darrion Ball opening the scoring, while Sam Baggaley also scored a first-half try as England led 8-4 at the break.
But that was as good as it got for England as Wales enjoyed long spells of possession in the second period, eventually taking the tie thanks to a last-minute try.
That result set up another clash with Papua New Guinea in a game to decide the Commonwealth Bowl winners for 2018.
And, in England's final match, Darrion Ball opened the scoring once again, before Wath Brow Hornets' Greg Howland doubled England's lead.
The Lions held a commanding 10-0 lead at the interval and Sam Rochford stepped his way over in the second half to end England's campaign on a high with a 14-0 win over PNG.
Sam slides beneath the sticks.
— England Lions RL (@lions_rl) February 24, 2018
ENG 14-0 PNG pic.twitter.com/lBjHRC3fCO
COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIP 9S | ENGLAND'S TOP SCORERS:
Sam Baggaley 3
Sam Rochford 2
Darrion Ball 2
Frankie Halton 1
Greg Howland 1
Liam Quinn 1
Owen Restall 1
The curtain came down on England Lions u23s’ Commonwealth Championship campaign with a 14-0 win over Papua New Guinea this morning.
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) February 24, 2018
An unforgettable experience for some of the community game’s finest young talent ðŸ‘ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ pic.twitter.com/m2d5E0fCOB
England's results -
Day 1:
England 10-28 Samoa
England 6-12 Tonga
England 12-4 Papua new Guinea
Day 2:
England 8-10 Wales
England 14-0 Papua New Guinea
