Easy night for Barnes as England Saxons ease to win

Bristol fly-half Ed Barnes helped England Saxons to a comfortable 66-0 win over Portugal at Edgeley Park last night.

The 28-year-old, starting for England's second string despite making just 19 Guinness Premiership starts so far in his career, kicked four conversions and set up a try during his 49 minutes on the field.

Stuart Lancaster's side, with Bristol assistant coach Paul Hull also on the staff, scored five first-half tries, with Harry Ellis crossing twice and Adam Powell, Tom Varndell and Noah Cato also going over.

Lancaster's young side took 20 minutes to warm up on a bitterly cold night in Stockport and Barnes missed with his first attempt at goal of the evening, sending a relatively straightforward penalty off target in the fourth minute.

But he recovered well, and after Ellis had gone over following a scrum, Barnes' perfect kick through the Portugal defence was gathered by Saracens centre Powell, who scored.

Ellis, perhaps more than any other player, will be hoping that England team manager Johnson was watching as he seeks to force his way back into the senior side ahead of next week's Six Nations opener against Italy at Twickenham.

Bath full-back Nick Abendanon's kick from deep bounced invitingly for Varndell to score England's third try, before Portugal hooker Joao Correira was yellow-carded for killing the ball.

England scored two tries while Portugal were reduced to 14 men, Ellis going over after another scrum, before Abendanon's pass for Cato to score capped a flowing team move from the home side.

It took until 15 minutes after the break for England to add their sixth try, Wasps centre Dominic Waldouck going over after further good work from man-of-the-match Abendanon.

Replacement Matt Smith raced in from 35 metres to add a seventh England try as Portugal's part-timers began to tire, with Varndell adding his second and England's eighth soon after.

Ellis then left the action to generous applause from a crowd of 3,801.

Jordan Crane powered over in the closing stages to add a ninth England try – and there was still time for Powell to take the hosts' try count into double figures.

Scorers: England Saxons – Tries: Ellis (2), Powell (2), Varndell (2), Cato, Waldouck, Smith, Crane. Cons: Barnes (4), Goode (4).