It was the chance for the finest young talent to shine as the War of the Roses battle was re-invigorated by the best young talent that the game has to offer as Yorkshire faced Lancashire, sadly behind closed doors at Weetwood Hall in Leeds, with an 11am kick-off.

A number of players selected for each of the arch enemies already had some top-flight experience including rising star Will Pryce from the Huddersfield Giants and Jason Qareqare already becoming established in the Castleford Tigers side.

The lack of atmosphere would be counteracted by an intensity from two sets of players hungry to impress and to win the game for their county.

Yorkshire were in for the opening try inside two minutes after good early pressure with winger Jason Qareqare (Castleford) finding plenty of space wide left to score in the corner. The touchline kick from Lewis Camden (Bradford Bulls) went wide of the posts, but it had been the ideal start for the White Rose.

A Lancashire error gifted Yorkshire their second try on seven minutes when they used all their tackles before a quick play-the-ball allowed hooker Denive Balmforth (Warrington) to scoot in as both markers failed to get a hand on him. Camden added the conversion for a 10-0 lead.

Lancashire were showing early game nerves and spilled the ball again inside their own half. Tom Nicholson-Watton (Leeds) was next to get his name on the scoresheet on twelve taking full advantage of the Lancashire errors and it was all too easy. Camden was unable to add the conversion from under the sticks, a slight Lancashire consolation but they were already up against it.

A perfect tonic came on sixteen as Tom Whitehead (Warrington) created the space for himself with a show and go to score by the left upright from ten metres out. Zach Eckersley (Wigan) added a simple conversion and Lancashire had a lifeline having halted the Yorkshire onslaught.

Lancashire had a try ruled out for a forward pass on twenty-four and as Yorkshire moved the ball down the other end of the field Levi Edwards (Leeds) went in for the fourth try despite sensational defence from Lancashire to halt the preceding break. The kick was again missed from wide, Yorkshire two converted tries ahead.

Qareqare was hauled into touch on thirty-one as he looked for his second, allowing Lancashire to counterattack. Jacob Douglas (Wigan) was fed on the wing by Logan Astley (Wigan) and after juggling the ball he grounded in the corner. The kick was wide of the upright, but the margin back down to eight points.

With four minutes of the half remaining Yorkshire were in again with Kieran Rush (Huddersfield) scooting from acting half back to score ten left of the uprights. Camden added the extras to put the White Rose 24-10 ahead at the break.

Edwards was held up over the line on forty-eight after some great Yorkshire offloads created him space to cross and on the next play a dropout was forced. On the next set fast hands saw Will Gatus (Leeds) over in the right corner. The kick went wide of the uprights once again, but the game was now beyond Lancashire.

An Edwards pass found Camden to go through a gap and score from twenty metres out on fifty-four minutes as Yorkshire continued to dominate. Jacob Hookem (Hull FC) kicked the two pointer for a 34-10 Yorkshire lead.

Lancashire kept Yorkshire out until the seventy second minute when Hookem pounced on his own grubber kick into the goal area to ground with his fingertips. He converted his own try to bring up the forty.

An entertaining game between two sides who both committed themselves to a thumping game between the cream of the young crop of emerging stars. Yorkshire were too good for their Lancashire opponents on the day, but there were many performances which indicate that the future is bright and in good hands as these exciting new talents emerge into our topflight clubs.

Yorkshire Academy Scorers: Qareqare (T), Balmforth (T), Camden (T, 2G), Nicholson-Watton (T), Edwards (T), Rush (T), Gatus (T), Hookem (T, 2G).

Lancashire Academy Scorers: Whitehead (T), Eckersley (G), Douglas (T).

Half-Time: 24-10.

Full-Time: 40-10.

Referee: Aaron Moore.

Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 14-0, 14-4, 14-6, 18-6, 18-10, 22-10, 24-10 : HT : 28-10, 32-10, 34-10 , 38-10, 40-10: FT.