ILKLEY Rugby Club had the honour of staging an international match on Saturday, as the current world champions, Wales Deaf, took on their England counterparts.

Despite Wales' pedigree, the England team put in a fantastic performance to win 27-11 and secure the Broadstreet Cup, contested between the two sides, for the first time since 2012.

In a tight first-half, England scored the only try. A powerful maul pushed the Welsh forwards back, and the ball was worked to Rob Shaw, who crossed the line to notch on his debut.

England only had a narrow 8-5 lead going into the break, and when Celyn Ashton slotted home a long range penalty for the Welsh early in the second half, the scores were level at 8-8.

With around 20 minutes to go, Wales looked as if they had the edge, but a sensational individual try from England's Henry Peuble, who broke through the opposition defence from halfway, changed the complexion of the contest.

Wales scored another penalty to bring the score within four, but Aaron Beasley and Cameron Roberts both crossed late on for England to give the scoreline a rather more emphatic look.

England have now beaten New Zealand and Wales this season, and their next challenge will be to put in a good performance at the first ever World Deaf Rugby 7's tournament in Australia this April.