AIS Man of the Match Christian HAZARD (photo : Dave Williams rlPhotos.com)

Leeds Rugby Academy

The Australian Institute of Sport completed their European tour with a comprehensive 42-0 win over the English Lions U18s.

With scrum-half Christian Hazard in outstanding form and centres Anthony Coleman and Tom Hughes running strongly out wide the Lions found the going tough in a game that was switched to the Leeds Rugby Academy from Heworth 24 hours earlier to beat the freezing conditions.

The Lions gave as good as they got in the opening exchanges but a break from hooker Peter Nay ended with Hazard diving over under the posts to for a try he converted himself to get the tourists up and running.

Despite captain Karl Dixon marshalling his side well the AIS increased their lead when Hazard scored in the corner from a short side play and just two minutes later Coleman grabbed a deserved try to make it 14-0.

Numerous handling errors stooped the home side making much progress and they were again punished when full-back Andrew Heffernan raced clear and Hazard booted his second goal to ease the AIS into a 20-0 half-time lead.

After re-grouping at the break the Lions returned with renewed vigour and just like the first period matched their opponents for the opening ten minutes.

However, after soaking up some pressure the Australians increased their lead when winger Lorenzo Vogel finished off a great handling move for try number five.

Hazard added his third goal after Tyson Cleal had showed great strength to touchdown just six minutes later, before the Lions went close only to be recalled twice for forward passes.

With the contest entering the final stages the AIS made their superior fitness count as they added three more tries through a brace from Hughes and a hat-trick score from the excellent Hazard.

The win completes a hat-trick of wins for the AIS in the UK after earlier wins over Wales U18s and the England Students.

Lions coach Kevin Lockett talk to his boyz

ENGLAND LIONS COACH KELVIN LOCKETT HAS A CHAT

“We gave it a really good shot but the AIS were at a higher level.

“They’re a very good side and I’m sure a few of their players will go on to play at a higher standard in the coming years.

“I was a bit disappointed with our first half performance as we made a lot of errors, but in the second I thought we put in a real effort and maybe the score line could have been a bit closer.

“We were competitive for large periods of the game and I thought Ian Curnow, Perry Singleton and Lewis Sheridan were amongst our better performers.”