Sicilians no match for rampant Lionhearts

LATCHFORD Albion’s Danny Brown was among the try scorers in the North West English Lionhearts 70-0 defeat of a Sicilian Select XIII in Catania.
It was the first game of the Lionhearts three match tour and although the local side showed great spirit and pride they were no match for the tourists.
The hosts went behind almost immediately after Wigan Bulldog Stuart Pemberton claimed a bouncing kick off and the team worked the ball right to Folly Lane’s Harry Warburton who grounded the ball.
Instead of a deluge of points after that there was a stubborn 10 minutes of resistance from the hosts, who created little opportunity of their own but put their bodies on the line to prevent any further score until Scott Robinson (Wigan St Judes), Danny Brown (Latchford Albion) and Dave Kennedy (Orrell St James) crossed the line in quick succession.
After a water break in the searing heat the Sicilians steadied the ship to prevent the Lionhearts scoring again until just before half time when Jordan Penny (Wigan St Cuthberts) went over for a quick double to make it 32-0 at the break.
The second half began in a similar manner to the first. Vice-captain Kennedy went over for his second score of the game, but after captain Jordan Gibson of Haydock kicked the goal there was 10 minutes of resistance from the Sicily Select.
However, this time after a repeat set for a rip near the line allowed Penny in for his hat-trick try the home side weren’t able to dig any deeper into their energy reserves and the floodgates opened a little.
From kick-off Warburton went over for his second score, before Jack McHugh of Orrell St James got himself on the scoresheet shortly after. Two long distance tries in three minutes followed that as a tired Sicily began to struggle, Kennedy first completing his hat-trick before McHugh stretched his legs to out pace the full back to the corner.
The Italian players found it in themselves to have their most sustained period of territory of the game as it drew to a close. However, despite their passion and effort they couldn’t find their way through the English defence before Hindpool Tigers’ Paul Rickleton ended the game with the Lionhearts’13th try which Gibson converted to close it at 70-0.
The Lionhearts tourists will next be in action on Wednesday in the first of two matches against Italy ‘A’ with the final game taking place on Saturday. Both games take place at CUS Catania.
Details: Tries: Harry Warburton (2), Scott Robinson, Danny Brown, Dave Kennedy (3), Jordan Penny (3), Jack McHugh (2), Paul Rickleton
Goals: Scott Robinson (4/6), Jordan Gibson (5/7)
Referee: Tara Jones (Warrington)