WARRINGTON Rugby Union Club under 15s are through to the semi-finals of the Lancashire Cup.

Sunday’s 46-12 defeat of Manchester at Grappenhall Sports Club was built upon hard graft down the middle.

Nineteen points without reply in the second half made the scoreline look comfortable in the end.

Attack coach David Hartill spoke about the Warrington style of play.

He said: "We don't play union in the traditional sense in that we use three halfbacks to attack in areas across the pitch which helps us to have options and stretch defences.

“However, the traditional route of forwards getting us going forward for backs to attack a retreating defence is still primal.

“Our middles worked very hard allowing us to have threats tight around the ruck or in the backs out wide."

Paddy Shephard scored two tries, his second being the score of the game.

From the re-start of his first touchdown, he stepped through the defence to break and then switched the ball-carrying hand in order to fend off the covering defender.

Further tries were scored by McKenzie Morris, two, Fraser Savage, two, Fin Hill and Sam Laird, with Jack Pendlebury adding the successful conversions.

Meanwhile, former Lymm scrum-half Alex Mitchell was a try scorer for England as he achieved his 12th cap against Italy in Rom on Saturday.

The Northampton Saints star caught the eye with his running game as the national side crept home 27-24 in their opening game of the Guinness Six Nations.

He is expected to be in the number nine shirt again when England host Wales at Twickenham this Saturday, kick-off 4.45pm.