George Carmont scored a last-minute try to deny England victory over the Exiles in the inaugural International Origin match.
Hosts come up just short after thrilling finish
George Carmont scored a last-minute try to deny England victory over the Exiles in the inaugural International Origin match at Headingley.
The Wigan centre's score earned the scratch side a 16-12 victory in a game which England will regard as a useful warm-up ahead of the Four Nations in the autumn.
Steve McNamara's side performed creditably and will feel they should have won after leading 12-10 with just seconds remaining, although the Exiles probably had just about the better of an evenly-fought contest.
The game came close to the intensity of the Test matches England can expect against the Kiwis and Kangaroos in November - the desperately slow play-the-balls that referee Richard Silverwood allowed were certainly painfully reminiscent of so much Test match rugby.
That suited the Exiles but it is something England will have to live with.
Both sides defended solidly throughout and there was no doubting the intensity of the tackling.
Space
The Exiles grabbed an early lead after Jamie Peacock's poor offload gifted them good field position and Thomas Leuluai's step created the space for Willie Manu to crash over, with Pat Richards adding the extras for a 6-0 lead.
England struggled to create a great deal and seemed happy to hammer away with one-out forward runs and the Exiles looked the more dangerous, with Sam Tomkins forced into a try-saving tackle on the outstanding Rangi Chase.
England's try when it arrived on 20 minutes came almost out of nowhere, with James Graham busting through the middle and slipping the ball out for Richie Myler to race in and score under the posts, with Kevin Sinfield converting.
But Brett Hodgson's chip and Sia Soliola's flick back infield to Francis Meli gave the Exiles the lead at the break and Sam Tomkins had to come up with another try-saving tackle, this time on Richards, on the hooter.
War of attrition
The second half developed into a war of attrition with chances at a premium, although Jon Wilkin's break almost set up a try only for his pass to go to ground, before Carmont was held up by four defenders over the line.
The deadlock was broken 12 minutes from time when Joel Tomkins showed superb timing and then raw pace to break off his own line, intercept Danny Buderus' pass and race 80 metres to score. Sinfield kicked the goal and England led for the first time.
They looked set to stay ahead after surviving two sustained assaults on their own line, but inside the final minute the Exiles kept the ball alive one last time and Carmont was able to cut inside and wrong-foot three tiring defenders to score the match-winner.
