Plymouth Albion's Tom Kessell put in a superb display as the England Counties XV won their second tour game in Canada, beating Ontario Blues 32-26.

Kessell pounced to score the opening try for England as they took a 10-0 lead inside six minutes in Toronto.

Ontario fought back with a Dan Pletch try and three penalties from fly-half Steve Piatek to go 16-10 in front.

The second-half saw the England regain the advantage with three tries, giving them their second win of the tour.

Prop Gavin Woods, full-back Tom Jarvis and flanker Dan Baines were the England try-scorers, while fly-half Tom Humphries supplied the extras with the boot.

Ontario's sole try in the second period came from scrum-half Adam Schouten.

England manager Danny Hodgson said: "Going in at half-time was a bit of a worry.

"We were more composed after the break and I thought the Blues might tire a bit, but they came back again and took us to the wire.

"Overall, though, I thought it was a great game and a great rugby occasion, just what the Counties team is all about in my view.

"Now we go to Vancouver to take on the British Columbia Bears and we know that we'll probably need to raise our game again to complete a hat trick of wins."

England Counties beat The Rock 20-6 in the first game of their tour last Friday.

England Counties XV: T Jarvis (unattached), J Tincknell (Wharfedale), K Dench (Harrogate) capt, H Staff (Blackheath), C Ingall (Tynedale), P Humphries (Blackheath), T Kessell (Plymouth Albion), G Woods (Caldy), J Roddam (Fylde), N Flynn (Sedgley Park), L McGowan (Coventry), L Collins (Redruth), M Wilson (Blaydon), D Baines (Macclesfield), P Eggleshaw (Nottingham).

Replacements: M Hall (Blaydon), C Voisey (Rotherham), H Spencer (Saracens/Bedford), M Evans (Moseley), R Winney (Macclesfield), S Hamilton (Blackheath), F Mulchrone (Macclesfield).

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