West Cumbrian forward Caine Barnes was part of the England Academy side who edged out their French counterparts this week.

The former Seaton amateur, who plays for Wigan Warriors, was named on the bench for the clash at Le Bacares on Monday night.

And the game reached a dramatic conclusion, with a last minute drop-goal from Castleford Tigers' Callum McLelland sealing a win for England over France under-18s 19-18.

The game swung both ways throughout with England bagging the first try to take the lead after France had led 2-0 after an early penalty.

In an exciting finish to the first half, France bagged a converted try before England replied with a try of their own.

But in an end-to-end finish, the home side bagged a try to take a 12-10 lead in at the break.

A penalty from the boot of England's Will Oakes levelled matters into the second half and then a try edged the visitors ahead at 16-12.

That went out to 18-12 following another penalty as the French side went down to 12-men after a sin-binning.

But that didn't stop the hosts as they came back with three penalties of their own to level the game.

It looked like it was going to finish all square until the boot of McLelland then secured the win for England with a vital one-pointer.

The two sides will meet again in a final Test The final as a curtain-raiser to France v Jamaica on Friday (5pm) at the home of Catalans Dragons, Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.