England Community Lions created further history in Perth with a hard-fought 23-14 win wrapping up a 2-0 series success against the Western Australia state side.
After winning the first game 22-0, the Lions knew they were in line for a much tougher prospect and two tries before the break tipped the game decisively in their favour.
Western Australia had five changes from the first test and only named their side a couple of hours before the game.
The hosts made a solid start with the Lions conceding early territory and penalties and from one such play when Jake Moore was ruled offside after getting to the ball, Queensland Cup centre Jaylen Grey booted the kick goalward for a 2-0 lead. Keelyn Tuuta-Edwards was held up over the line by a great tackle by Dom Wear and Lewis Price in the tenth minute.
Lions scrum-half Danny Rowse cancelled that out at the other end in the 15th minute with an equalising penalty and Jack McShane sniffed out a close-range score from dummy half to put the Lions 2-6 up after 18 minutes. WA struck right back with an athletic finish by Ryan Woolley in the corner five minutes later.
Western Australia were a lively prospect on attack and worked a smart try on the left when second-row Brendan White sliced through after some clever manipulation of the defence. Grey couldn't goal.
It was now the Lions turn to pile on the pressure and Ellison Holgate did well to collect a hanging restart and then late in the set Kieron Prescott went shortside from dummy half and fed Craig McShane to a diving finish.
The tourists continued their high-octane response when Siddons drew two players to him before popping the ball up for Andy Philbin to go in at the side of the posts and Rowse converted.
Just before the break, Philbin won a penalty for his side. The Lions rolled on through Siddons and Keiran Glen before Holgate blasted out of dummy half to dive over at the side of the posts and Rowse tagged on the extras to have the tourists leading 22-10 at half-time.
The second half was a much tighter affair with the Lions showing great concentration as WA attacked and had the better of field position for much of the third quarter. A brilliant run from Connor Parkinson took the Lions out of their own twenty and when Rowse was flattened kicking the ball on the last tackle, the tourists had a penalty.
Kainoa Gudgeon was sin-binned for his part in afters as the players came together.
Rowse continued and called for the ball in the set, kicking an important drop goal from close range to move the Lions thirteen points clear on the hour.
WA responded well through hooker, Luke David Wells Tuamavaio who finished some accomplished approach work from his pack but Grey was wide from the boot after 64 minutes and the Lions defensive tenacity had the final say with their never-say-die attitude and team work coming to the fore to prevent any further points for them to celebrate in lifting the Cash Converters Community Cup at full-time.
WA: Kainoa Gudgeon, Bailey Millar, Jaylen Grey, Corban Daniels, Ryan Woolley; Delane Edwards, Sonny Kerr; Ezra Taomia, Luke-David Wells-Talamaivao,Tom Fry, Brandon White, Tyler Moeau, Keelyn Tuuta-Edwards. Subs (All Used): Taurean Sheehan, Duane Butler, Onisimo Tagicakibau, Jarrad Smith, Edward Shand.
Tries: Woolley (23), White (29), Wells-Tuamavaio (64)
Goals: Grey 1/4
Lions: Craig McShane, Connor Parkinson, Lewis Price, Jake Dearden, Kieron Prescott; Dom Wear, Danny Rowse; Jamie Tracey, Jack McShane, Chris Siddons, Jake Moore, Ben Shulver, Charlie Tomlinson. Subs (All Used): Ellison Holgate, Conor Taylor, Conner MacCallum, Andy Philbin, Keiran Glen.
Tries: J McShane (18), C McShane, Philbin (36), Holgate (39)
Goals: Rowse 3/5
Drop goal: Rowse (60)
Half-time: 10-22
Full-time: 14-23
Referee: Scott Spittles
