FORMER York College wonderkid Tom Lineham scored a try on his international debut as England Knights won their opening tour match in Papua New Guinea 16-12.

Lineham - an ex-York RUFC junior and York City Knights starlet who is now starring in Super League with Grand Finalists Warrington - gave Paul Anderson’s boys a lead they never lost in the 31st minute in conditions of high humidity in front of a boisterous rugby league-mad crowd in Lae.

The speedy winger got on the end of a passing movement after the Kumuls had spilled possession on their own 20-metre line.

Goal-kicking proved to be the difference in the final reckoning, with Warrington's Dec Patton landing two from three conversion attempts while PNG missed all of theirs.

England failed to score in the second period but secured victory courtesy of a gutsy defensive effort.

PNG went in front in the 13th minute when a kick was patted back for Brendon Nima to score out wide.

England responded when Leeds Rhinos’ Liam Sutcliffe crossed and Patton added the extras. Moses Maninga burst through several England defenders from 20 metres to restore the Kumuls' advantage in the 26th minute.

But the to-and-fro scoring continued as Lineham’s touchdown made it 10-8 to the tourists.

Four minutes before the interval Kruise Leeming did the spadework for Wigan wingman Tom Davies to get over the whitewash, with Patton converting.

England conceded a number of penalties leading up to PNG’s 50th-minute try before the final 30 minutes were played out without a point being added.

The sides will meet again in Port Moresby next Saturday.

Lineham, 26, played rugby union for York juniors before switching codes while at York College and being snapped up by the Knights. He quickly rose into Super League with Hull before joining Warrington in 2015.