A last-minute George Carmont try condemned England to a 16-12 defeat in the International Origin match against an Exiles team, made up of Super League's best Southern Hemisphere players, at Headingley Friday.

The Exiles were the far sharper team in the first half and were rewarded with tries from Willie Manu and Francis Meli with Richie Myler replying for England to give Brian McClennan's side a 10-6 halftime lead.

Kiwi half-backs Thomas Leuluai and Rangi Chase pulled the strings for the Exiles throughout the match but England looked to have got out of jail thanks to Joel Tomkins' intercept try.

But they could not withstand some late Exiles pressure which culminated in Carmont in the last minute to give England plenty of food for thought ahead of the Four Nations.

Any doubts about the commitment on display by either side were dispelled by a big hit on Exiles skipper Danny Buderus.

But Burderus, the 25-cap former Australia captain, was instrumental in creating the opening try when he snaffled up England skipper and Leeds teammate Jamie Peacock's attempted offload.

The ball was moved at pace before some quick hands and even quicker feet from Leuluai put Manu, who was included in an England training camp 12 months ago, for the opening try.

Australian Pat Richards, the reigning Super League Man of Steel, added the extras for a 6-0 opening lead with seven minutes gone.

The breach was finally made when James Graham, who will join NRL side Canterbury at the end of the season, slipped between two tackles before offloading to Myler who ran in his eighth try in only five international appearances.

Kevin Sinfield made it all square but Myler was soon involved at the other end of the pitch when he stopped Manu getting his second try by getting his body under the ball in another Exiles attack orchestrated by Chase.

But the Exiles did get their second try on 27 minutes when Pat Richards was hauled down on the left before the ball was spread to the right where full-back Brett Hodgson chipped for Iosia Soliola to tap the ball back to a grateful Meli.

Despite a better start by England, it was the Exiles who still looked the more dangerous in procession and 35-year-old ex-North Queensland second row Glenn Morrison was held just short while five England players were needed to keep Camont on his feet.

England meanwhile were enjoying plenty of possession but could not find the final pass to break a well disciplined Exiles defence.

But just as McClennan's side were looking for a decisive third try with ten minutes remaining, Joel Tomkins picked off a loose pass and raced nearly the full length of the pitch. Sinfield added the extras.

The Exiles responded superbly in the closing stages and Hodgson was only just held up but there was a final twist in the tale when the ball was spread quickly for Wigan and former Newcastle Knight Carmont to spark wild celebrations in the Exiles ranks.

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