DRIGHLINGTON'S Luke Pennington came up against Australian opposition for the first time when he made his debut for the BARLA Great Britain under-18s last week.
Pennington, who has been playing in Drig's first team this year in the Pennine Premier Division after a spell with Hunslet Hawks' Academy, started in the second row, wearing the number 11 shirt, as the British team took on an Australian Schoolboys si
de.
But despite a battling effort he was to finish disappointed as the tourists won 58-12 in a game played at Whitehaven.
The score did not do justice to the British lads who impressed both coaches with the way they kept pegging away although the Australians were already 40-0 ahead at half time.
"I was really pleased with the boys. I said to them at half time not to give up because I had seen a lot of positives in the first half," said BARLA under-18s coach Kelvin Lockett.
"The Australian Schoolboys are a very strong and good team and I told the lads not to stop believing in themselves and really have a go and that's what they did in the second half.
"We had a prop taken away from us in the last minute so we played the game with only two recognised props and three of our lightweight forwards had to move up into the front row, do their bit, have a dig and they got stuck in.
"I think everyone appreciated what they did and the lads showed a lot of courage, endeavour and determination. Their families can be very proud of them and their efforts and I thought they were superb."
Australian Schoolboys coach Simon Huntly added: "All credit to BARLA, they rolled their sleeves up, came out and put it to us.
"BARLA had a good structure, their defence was rigorous and they played some good football and put some points on us. I was over here four years ago and I was thinking to myself about the quality of the BARLA side. They have come on leaps and bounds in that time and the quality they showed was as good as anything we confronted from BARLA the last time we were here. So whatever they are doing over here with development must be working."
Among the Australians to impress was stand-off Chris Sandow who has been signed by new NRL side Gold Coast Titans. He was the star of the show as he ran in a first half hat-trick and kicked six goals.
