England came from behind with an overpowering second half performance to comfortably defeat old rivals Wales at National Sports Club yesterday.

Centre Simon Langford may have grabbed two tries, but England's star was number eight Paul Simpson.

Always in the thick of the action, Simpson got England rolling when they most needed it, early in the second half.

The `rolly polly' forward pulled his team back from a 7-0 half-time deficit by charging over following a period of intense England pressure.

Steve Boyle converted to pull England on level terms.

That was the beginning of the end for Wales, who fell apart within the next 15 minutes, despite some heroic tackling from their lanky left-winger Mark Brown.

England were boosted by the arrival the night before of forward Paul Rendall and back Rob Lozowski.

And it was Lozowski who created their second try when he made a lightning breakaway down the left-hand side.

After darting 35 yards, he flicked the ball back inside to Langford to make an easy score.

Langford extended England's lead moments later when a rolling maul took the English pack over the Welsh line.

Both sets of forwards collapsed on the ground and when they got up, it was Langford who was clutching the ball.

By now, Wales were reduced almost to desperate measures to get back in the game.

There was a moment of humour on the two benches after Brown grounded a difficult pass, picked it up and charged towards the English line only to be called back by the referee.

"What about the advantage rule,'' screamed someone with a thick accent on the Welsh bench, thinking the penalty was in Wales' favour.

"He knocked it on, you tart,'' shouted back Paul Simpson, who was taking a well-earned rest at the time. If the match was not already over as a contest, with the score at 19-7, it was 10 minutes from the end when England's Tony Bond scored under the posts.

Welsh wizard Peter Morgan, who has been the star performer at previous World Rugby Classics, added some respectability to the scoreline when he scored a consolation try at the end.

It was Morgan who had given Wales the lead with the only try of the first half.

If Wales were disappointed at the loss, they could take a considerable degree of comfort from the fact that they do not have to face the all-conquering All Blacks in the final.

Onions 12, The Rest 17 Two breakaway tries by The Rest were just enough to hold off Onions in this hard-fought exhibition tussle.

But the outcome was in the balance right up to the final whistle as Onions pushed hard for the try that would pull them level.

With seconds remaining, Onions captain David Cooke looked to have saved his team when he went over in the left corner.

But he was adjudged to have hit the corner flag as he dived over to touch down and, instead of a match-saving try, a line-out was awarded to The Rest.

The Rest, who led 7-5 at half-time, scored two interception tries from Tom Dixon and Mike Gorrie.

Gorrie was almost caught on the line by Andre Simons, who had given him several yards head start in a long chase, but managed to stay ahead to score.

In the end, the kicking of Alan Oliver proved the difference between the two sides, converting both tries and adding a crucial penalty kick.

Bobby Hurdle and Nick Ball scored tries for Onions, with full-back Pat Jones slotting a difficult conversion.

Jones left the field late in the game with a leg injury.

BOOT-IFUL -- England's Peter Blackitt upends Wales danger man Mark Brown.

ALL ABOARD -- Andrew Correia charges forward despite the attentions of The Rest, watched by team-mate Bobby Hurdle.