Jack Harbidge reviews the emphatic opening game of the RLWC at St James’ Park…
SCOREBOARD
England 60
Tries: Jack Welsby (21), Dominic Young 2 (24, 29), Kallum Watkins (46), Herbie Farnworth (64), Elliott Whitehead 2 (68, 70), Tommy Makinson (73), George Williams (76), Thomas Burgess (79)
Goals: Tommy Makinson 8 (23, 26, 47, 66, 69, 71, 74, 79)
Samoa 6
Tries: Izack Tago (33)
Goals: Stephen Crichton (35)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty ImagesSamoa came out of the blocks in Newcastle with an impassioned haka in the face of the England side but started the game with very little energy in the opening exchanged soon after.
England came out of the blocks dominating the lethargic Samoan pack to score two facile tries against the star studded NRL side, first through Jack Welsby and then through Dom Young.
Young added a second with a good finish down the England right edge to put the hosts 18 up after the conversion.
Samoa struggled to get back into the game with their heavy pack struggling to keep control of England’s superior ruck control but were given a lifeline just shy of half time when Izack Tago intercepted Jack Welsby’s pass down the right edge to cut the England lead to 12 points after half time.
Samoa looked to have improved after half time but soon found themselves on the back foot with Kallum Watkins crossing for England just over eight minutes played of the half.
England continued their rampage with Herbie Farnworth crossing the whitewash to all but put the game out of reach for Samoa before Elliot Whitehead muscled his way over through Josh Aloiai and Josh Papali’i to get England’s sixth try of the game.
Soon after, he completed a quickfire double by finishing off an expansive move off the ensuing kick-off. Tommy Makinson added a try of his own to breach the 50 mark for the hosts before George Williams and Thomas Burgess stretched the margin to embarrassing levels for the lacklustre Samoan side, finishing the game 60-6.
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