Ireland A 6
England Community Lions 44
Thirty-four second-half points helped the Community Lions Under-23s to victory over an improving Ireland A at Morton Stadium.
For long spells, particularly in the first half, they asked questions and defended stoutly.
Hunslet ARLFC's prolific winger Tyler Dargan opened the scoring after twelve minutes, somehow grounding a cross-field kick from Millom's Jack Newbegin. Hindley's Joe Heaton slotted the first of four goals.
Egremont Rangers rampaging second row, Aaron Turnbull got the Lions second try after sixteen minutes after bulleting through although it was too far out for Heaton to goal.
Ireland then saw Alex Duff sin-binned but rallied after Dargan couldn't ground a difficult chance on the right.
Unfortunately for Ireland, they lost the services of halfback Liam O'Callaghan who was taken to hospital as a precaution with a neck injury.
Stand-off Jake Connell zipped through the line and found support from Richie McHugh but the Lions chased back to deny points and then held out when Turnbull flattened Aaron Lynch near the line.
There was some adversity before the break as well when Heaton was sin-binned for his part in a four-man challenge and it remained 0-10 to the Lions at half-time.
Seconds into the new half, Ireland came up with a superb attack when Connell again stepped a defender and blazed over half the length of the pitch to open their account with Ryan Hogg converting to close the score to 6-10.
This was the worst thing that could have happened to Ireland with the Lions clicking into ruthless gear to score four tries in nine minutes. First Leigh Miners Rangers Noah Lancelott grounded at the corner, and Ellenborough Ranger, Owen Hoyles goaled on 44 minutes. Then, a clever offload from Millom's Rio McQuistan and dancing feet from Wath Brow star Ellison Holgate brought him a try beneath the posts and Heaton returned from the sin-bin to goal. The next set was even better when Ince Rose Bridge centre Kallem Rodgers ran 35 metres and burst past a couple of attempted tackles on the line to ground. Heaton's third goal opened a 6-28 lead.
With the pack carrying well and Ireland wilting under the pressure, Holgate cleverly curved off to the left and weaved through in the corner to increase the advantage to 6-32.
A further score came down that prolific left side when Ince Rose Bridge back row Harry Penny was too powerful and Heaton completed his goal haul.
There was still time for another Lions score when Hensingham's Noel Branthwaite passed for Brodie Lee Butler and the Ince Rose Bridge and Royal Navy second row sliced through and finished superbly from 25 metres for Hoyles to add his second goal.
Once more Ireland rallied in the last twenty minutes, thrice denying the Lions on the right before some late possession and solid link-up involving the effervescent Ellis Kepple was thwarted by strong defence and the Lions celebrated victory.
Ireland A: Louis O'Sullivan, Ellis Kepple, Matthew Shirlow, Kevin Varga, Callum Dockerill; Jake Connell, Liam O'Callaghan; Paul Bolger, Ryan Hogg, Toby Ennis, Aaron Lynch, Daniel Lynch, James Downes.
Subs: Daithi Joyce, Richie McHugh, Alex Duff, Sam Boyd, Joe McConnell.
Try: Jake Connell (41).
Goal: Ryan Hogg 1/1.
Community Lions U23s
Josh Parker, Noah Lancelott, Kallem Rodgers, Sam Appleby, Tyler Dargan; Jack Newbegin, Joe Heaton; Jake Pearce, Noel Branthwaite, Moris Kamano, Harry Penny, Harry Dodd, Adam Carr.
Subs: Owen Hoyles, Ellison Holgate, Jack Briggs, Harvey Stevens, Brodie-Lee Butler, Aaron Turnbull, Rio McQuistan.
Tries: Tyler Dargan (12), Aaron Turnbull (16), Noah Lancelott (44), Ellison Holgate (47, 53), Rodgers (49), Harry Penny (58), Brodie-Lee Butler (65).
Goals: Joe Heaton 4/6, Owen Hoyles 2/2.
Referee: James Spencer.
Half-time: 0-10.
By Dave Parkinson
