It may be the smallest zone in Country rugby but New England put on a dominant display at the NSW County junior rugby union championships at the weekend.
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The Lions hosted the under 12, 13 and 14s tournament at Sport UNE’s Consett Davis fields.
New England took on the under 14 division and started their campaign with a 36-nil win over Central Coast.
The little Lions were then outclassed by heavyweights Hunter 26-nil before beating Far North Coast 21-7.
The hosts took on eventual winners Illawarra in the semi-final and were beaten 31-5.
They took on Central West in the play-off for third.
Central West scored in the first minute of play before the little Lions kicked into gear.
First-half tries to Ben Row, Ashton Randall-Dwyer and Tana Heron saw them take a 15-7 lead at the break.
Heron and half Darcy Booth crossed against in the second stanza to stretch their lead to 27-5.
Central West scored a consolation try on the final buzzer to bring the scoreline to 27-12 and hand New England third place in their division.
Illawarra took out all three divisions.
New England’s Booth, Heron, Ben Rowe, Liam Hunt and Eli Lohse were named in the junior Country Cockatoos side at the completion of the carnival.