SAINTS hooker Aaron Smith played a starring role in a huge win for England Knights against Jamaica in Jordan Turner’s Testimonial game at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in Castleford.

Smith was named on the bench along with Saints teammate Matty Lees by head coach Paul Anderson but certainly made an impact when he entered proceedings late in the second half.

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Picture: SWpix.com

Replacing skipper Danny Walker, the first of his two tries from short range was the last act of a first half in which England assembled an 18-4 lead.

Building on what Walker had done earlier, Smith’s scheming was at the heart of everything good about the Knights’ runaway second-half display.

 

He almost got Lees over with a crash-ball close to the line in the 51st minute and then made the break for the first of Matty Ashton’s two tries in five minutes.

His second try eight minutes from time brought up the 50-mark on a comfortable night for England’s young guns.

 

Centre Jack Broadbent put England ahead against the run of play when he raced home from 95 metres after intercepting a Turner pass. Will Pryce converted.

Four minutes later Walker crossed from dummy-half after Ashton had been held up short, with Pryce’s goal moving the Knights 12-0 ahead.

While prop George Lawler was in the sin-bin for a shoulder charge, Pryce and Ellis Longstaff were unable to prevent Ben Jones Bishop from crossing as he straightened up off a Turner pass in the 31st minute.

England responded with Pryce stepping on the gas from a standing start as he switched play from first receiver to defy a napping Jamaica defence. And he converted his own try for 18-4.

Smith marked his arrival with a simple close-range effort from dummy half between the sticks, with Pryce’s conversion the last act of the half.

England’s chase was so good from the re-start that Broadbent snaffled up the ball as the kick came down and crossed unopposed for his second try from 30 metres for another six points.

Then after Lees was held up short for the second time in as many minutes, Pryce threaded through a perfectly weighted grubber for Longstaff to touch down.

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Matty Lees, left, on defensive duty with Morgan Gannon and Danny Walker. Picture: SWpix.com

In the next set, Smith broke from dummy half and the supporting Ashton hared away from 40 metres and Pryce’s extras brought up the 40 points.

The floodgates looked to be open as Mikey Lewis got away and after handing over to Kai Pearce-Paul there was Ashton in support again to finish off his second try in five minutes.

But Jamaica held on to concede only twice more, a second from short range by dummy half Smith eight minutes from time and then Connor Wrench wrapped up the scoring from a double sidestep after receiving Ashton’s pass.

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The international contest was a Testimonial game for former St Helens centre Jordan Turner. Picture: SWpix.com