Lancashire came out on top in Game One of the 2026 Academy Origin series.
The Red Rose edged a high-quality contest with rivals Yorkshire, coming out 30-14 victors at Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Wigan Warriors’ Zak Bielecki opened the scoring for Shane Eccles’ side before club-mate Sam Dickenson added a second try.
Bielecki converted the latter for a 10-0 lead before Wigan’s Harrison Pearson crossed for their third try of the afternoon.
Yorkshire did launch a fightback, though, when Warrington’s Bailey Lund got over and Wakefield Trinity’s Corey Abraham soon added another.
Hull KR’s Alex Gorman improved the second try to leave the visitors trailing just 14-10 at the break.
When Huddersfield Giants’ Lewis Jagger scored early in the second period, the game was left all square.
But Dickenson got his second try to nudge Lancashire back in front and Wigan’s Charlie Jeffrey-Stott strengthened their lead, another Warrior – Tom Farrimond – rounding off with their final try.
Head of England Pathways (Male) Paul Anderson said: “It was a really hard-fought match, which truly ebbed and flowed.
“It was one of the most competitive games we’ve had at this level in the four years we’ve been doing it.
“The Lancashire lads eventually ran away with it late on, but it was a highly competitive contest.
“We used 20-man squads on game day with seven subs and ten interchanges.
“The reason we do that is to try to keep the match intensity up and that certainly worked.
“We all now look forward to the second game of the series at OneBore Stadium on Saturday.”
Yorkshire will look to bounce back and level the two-game series when they host their opponents at the home of Castleford Tigers on Saturday (kick-off 1pm).
