Former Wandering Hand Lewsey stars in England victory

Roar! Former Hand Josh Lewsey scores for England against Italy

JOSH Lewsey showed England what they have been missing when he scored two tries and made two more in his first England game at Twickenham.

The former Hands fullback, making his debut in the Six Nations Championship, was the star of the show on Sunday as England laboured to a 40-5 victory over Italy.

It has been five years since Lewsey made his debut for England (and six years since he last played for the Hands), with only a handful of appearances to show for his efforts, but it took only took three minutes for Lewsey to show England what he can do when he touched over for England's opening try over in the left-hand corner.

He then helped lay on the third try for James Simpson-Daniel before coming into his own for the fourth score. Receiving the ball 65 metres out, Lewsey broke through the Italian defence and then stood Mirco Bergamasco up before running on and going over in the left hand corner.

Afterwards, Lewsey said: "Well done me, that was almost as much fun as when I punched Hands stalwart No 8 Tim Thorne in the face during an intra-mural game.

"It takes me back though - if it were not for the fact that I played for the Hands once of twice in 1996-1997 I doubt I would be standing here today.

Lewsey's Hands colleagues were also to the fore on Sunday, watching the game in a pub.

The Wandering Hands are a social side that play in London and tour occasionally.

10:26 Tuesday 11th March 2003

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