A five-try performance by Leigh Miners Rangers winger Noah Lancelott helped England Community Lions Under 23s to their third success in three weeks.
This Autumn has been a busy one for the Under 23s, and another commanding second half saw them dispatch Wales Dragonhearts for a second time.
Seven tries in the second forty minutes saw the Lions take complete control after the Wales side had posed a good test in the first half.
With Jake Spedding kicking well for the hosts and an enthusiastic Wales middle ripping in, it took the Lions 15 minutes to settle, when Rio McQuistan put a hustling, bustling run to the line and Joe Heaton goaled to open a 0-6 advantage.
Three minutes later it was 0-10 when Josh Parker put a slide rule kick behind the defence and Lancelott judged the ball perfectly to dive in. It was too wide for Heaton as conditions got wetter.
The Wales Dragonhearts pulled a score back after 27 minutes when Brandon Lamb crashed through from close range. Chris Harris couldn't convert and it was 4-10.
A second opportunity fell the hosts way when Harris put a mid-range kick to the sky and Lamb raced on but he spilled possession and it remained 4-10 after 33 minutes.
The Dragonhearts had Craig Lewis sin-binned after 36 minutes and the visitor's response was clinical when Heaton fired a great ball left and Lancelott had space to go over by the flag. Again it was too far out for the conversion and the Lions had to be content with a 4-14 half-time advantage.
Despite the Lions having an inauspicious start to the new half, it wasn't long before Lancelott snapped up an attacking kick, got on the outside of his man and sped 80 metres on the gluepot pitch to score. Josh Parker stepped up to convert and the York Acorn man was on target again in the 49th minute when Harry Dodd finished approach work from Jack Newbegin. Newbegin was next on the scoresheet himself when he first kicked foward, Tyler Dargan contested before the ball broke for the Millom halfback who kicked ahead and ran through to score on the right.
This time Parker couldn't goal and it was too far out once more for the fullback after Lancelott dabbed the ball behind the defence and snared his fourth try of the game.
The Dragonhearts then enjoyed some possession, winning a penalty and the Lions defence held firm to prevent Ben Jackson and Corey Harris from adding to their tally before persistence finally paid off when skipper Lloyd Allen touched down from close range in the 61st minute.
The Welsh team started to get physical with the younger Lions and they responded with the finest of Lancelott's quintet as he weaved and slalomed in and out of defenders with moves reminiscent of the old Ski Sunday programmes. Parker goaled to take the visitors to 40 points and they finished strongly with two further tries in the last five minutes. Ellison Holgate supported Noel Branthwaite superbly to slip a couple of defenders to go under the posts before a late passing move to the right was finished by Dargan. He was fouled over the line by Craig Lewis and although Heaton missed the conversion, he was on target with the resulting penalty to complete the 8-52 success.
Wales Dragonhearts: Lewis Francis, Aidyn Jones, Brandon Lamb, Lewys Blayney, Kurtis Haile; Chris Harris, Jake Spedding, Tyler Hopkins, Dai Felton, Ben Jackson, Craig Lewis, Conor O'Callaghan, Lloyd Allen. Subs: Corey Harris, Alfie Matthias, Jake Price, Ross Price, Dylan Rees-Davies, Jack Griffiths, Scott Whitlock.
Tries: Branson Lamb (27), Lloyd Allen (61).
Goals: Chris Harris 0/1, Corey Harris 0/1.
England Community Lions U23: Josh Parker (York Acorn), Noah Lancelott (Leigh Miners Rangers), Harry Penny (Ince Rose Bridge), Harry Dodd (Hunslet ARLFC), Tyler Dargan (Hunslet ARLFC); Jack Newbegin (Millom), Joe Heaton (Hindley); Jake Pearce (Wath Brow Hornets), Ellison Holgate (Wath Brow Hornets), Harvey Stevens (Oulton Raiders), Brodie Lee Butler (Ince Rose Bridge / Royal Navy), Aaron Turnbull (Egremont Rangers), Rio McQuistan (Millom). Subs: Noel Branthwaite (Hensingham), Jack Briggs (Hunslet ARLFC), Moris Kamano (Hunslet ARLFC), Adam Carr (Thatto Heath Crusaders).
Tries: Rio McQuistan (15), Noah Lancelott (18, 36, 43, 56, 69), Harry Dodd (49), Jack Newbegin (53), Ellison Holgate (76), Tyler Dargan (79)
Goals: Joe Heaton 3/6, Josh Parker 3/5.
Half-time: 4-14
Full-time: 8-52
By Dave Parkinson
