England Community Lions U 23's dominate Wales Dragonhearts

EIGHT West Cumbrians have 'shone' at the weekend as the England Community Lions dominated Wales Dragonhearts in a 56-0 win.

Ellenborough Rangers' Owen Hoyles and Wath Brow Hornet's Jay Weatherall topped the points scoring with twelve apiece as the England Community Lions U23s defeated The Wales Dragonhearts 56-0 in an emphatic win in St Helens.

With eight Cumbrians in a squad of twenty, Weatherall's Wath Brown team mate Jake Pearce was co-captain on the day and led by example with a battling performance. Kell's Aaron Burns and Egremont Rangers' Aaron Turnbull were also on the scoresheet with a try apiece, and Cumbria shone as Hensingham's Jack Kellett kicked two conversions, and Kell's Mason Lewthwaite and Egremont's Brad Long both played important roles in an outstanding team effort to deliver the win, with the added bonus of newly appointed Lion's coach Gary Hewer on the touchline.

Owen Hoyles and Aaron Burns celebrate Hoyles' try (Image: Ben Challis Sport Photography)

England started well as three West Hull teammates Elliott Jones, Luke Moss and Tom Burke combined well down the left wing to allow Burke to dive in by the corner flag for an unconverted try.

This score was followed by Welsh pressure on the England try line, but the Lions repelled the Dragonhearts and on eleven minutes the Lions scored their second try as Turnbull twisted over to score, with Kellett converting. The Lions could have done better, but handling mistakes cost them two good opportunities to score, but England then ran in two quick tries with Jack McShane and Jones both touching down, and just before half time the Lions extended the lead to 24-0 with a try from Burns, with an excellent conversion from fellow Cumbrian Kellett.

Jake Pearce Jay Weatherall and Aaron Turnbull are amongst the England Community Lions celebrating the win (Image: Ben Challis Sport Photography)

The second half followed a similar pattern, and better handling and discipline set up Weatherall to use his speed and agility to run in on the right wing, Jones zig-zagged his way over for his second, Weatherall produced another right wing charge for his second score, and Jake Roberts crashed through the Dragonheart's line and managed to force the ball to ground despite the attentions of the Welsh defence.

England reached fifty points when Hoyles sprinted free to dot down, adding his third goal of the afternoon, and in the final minute Weatherall went in for his hat trick and Hoyles added his fourth goal for a convincing eleven try Lions' win.