Matt Pritchard reviews England’s seven tries to three victory over France in Bolton on Saturday.
SCOREBOARD
England 42
Tries: Ryan Hall 2 (5, 11), Luke Thompson (23), Elliott Whitehead (44), Victor Radley (49), Dom Young 2 (55, 65)
Goals: Marc Sneyd 7 (7, 12, 25, 45, 49, 57, 67)
France 18
Tries: Arthur Mourgue (28), Eloi Pelissier (32), Arthur Romano (75)
Goals: Arthur Mourgue 3 (29, 33, 77)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland have booked their place in the Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals following their 42-18 victory over France in Bolton on Saturday.
Ryan Hall scored the first of his two tries after five minutes in a play that began with George Williams kicking across field, before being tapped back by Sam Tomkins. His second came with a long pass from Williams to Farnworth, before the veteran winger scored in the corner.
Victor Radley set up England’s third of the afternoon after making a line-break and finding Luke Thompson on the inside to score under the posts.
France struck twice in five minutes around the half hour mark with Arthur Mourgue regathering his kick from an English deflection to score, before Farnworth’s error led to Eloi Pelissier scoring from dummy half.
After England led 18-12 at the break, they extended their lead with two tries in ten minutes. The first was the ex-Canberra backrower John Bateman linking up with former NRL teammate Elliott Whitehead to score. A shallow kick from Andy Ackers close to the line saw Radley score to extend the lead to 30-12.
Dom Young grabbed a double with his first coming off a lovely shift to the right in a play involving Jack Welsby, and his second thanks to a length of the field intercept off Pelissier’s overhead pass.
Tony Gigot showed wonderful skill in dazzling the English defence, to set up Arthur Romano for the third French try.
Tom Burgess was sent to the sin bin and placed on report for a last minute indiscretion on Pelissier.
England will surely rest players ahead of their clash with Greece, while France’s fate will be decided when they take on Samoa next Sunday.
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