ENGLAND 98 WALES 18
IAN GOLDEN, WIN Entertainment Centre, Friday

ROB HAWKINS ran the show for England as they opened their defence of the World Cup with a good win against a Wales side that didn’t give up.

The Welsh side, who fielded their third youngest player of all-time in Fionn McCabe, who only turned 16 this month, had their moments, but Hawkins, who reached the 100-try mark for the year in this game, was the catalyst for the win with his eleven in this match.

There was only a minute on the clock when Nathan Collins reached out to give England the lead, converting his own try.

Twice Wales denied England a second try with last-ditch tackles, as they defended their opponents’ second set well.

But after Wales couldn’t capitalise on an England error, Hawkins scored his first of the day after a fine passing move.

Wales soon got a try on the board. After winning a goal-line drop-out, Stuart Williams was given too much space to score his record-extending 74th try for Wales. Matthew Turner, another 16-year-old, converted.

England soon extended their lead when Hawkins went over and Collins goaled, but from the restart, Sid Ramsey fended off Hawkins to score and Turner converted again.

But England regained their two-try advantage on 23 minutes when Joe Coyd went in under the sticks and Collins converted.

Collins was in for the next, with Hawkins scoring the next two to bring up 99 for the season, with Collins kicking all the goals.

He had to wait a little longer for his 100th try, as he fumbled on the line when attempting to collect to score.

But he got there in the next play of the match, scoring in the corner, but Collins missed for the first time, leaving the score at 46-12 at the break.

England made their first substitutions at half-time, with Mason Billington and Tristan Norfolk coming on for Jack Brown and Lewis King, but it was Hawkins who continued to star, scoring twice in the first seven minutes after the break, being denied a third after receiving a forward pass. Collins converted the first of them.

Wales looked to have hit back when Jodie Boyd-Ward touched down in the corner, but her wheel had slipped into touch.

And when England got back onto the attack, this time it was Collins who broke through to score, converting his own try.

Next time it was Hawkins back in the act, racing away and converting his own try to put the score on 68-12.

Hawkins soon went over for his ninth and tenth tries, sandwiching a Billington score. Hawkins converted the third of them to put the score on 82-12.

Wales weren’t giving up, and their player of the match Sid Ramsey fought his way over for his second and the side’s third. Turner converted.

But Hawkins wasn’t going to let anyone steal his show, as his eleventh try and third goal made the score 88-18.

England were hungry and were looking for the century. Brown was next on the board with Hawkins converting to put them six points shy, and it was a handling error from a tiring Wales side that gave England their final try as Collins scored with seconds remaining.

Hawkins couldn’t convert, to cheers from many that England didn’t reach 100, but it mattered little to his personal show.

GAMESTAR: Obviously Rob Hawkins with his 52-point haul.

GAMEBREAKER: Hawkins’ two tries after half-time ensured Wales wouldn’t be causing a shock here.

MATCHFACTS

ENGLAND
1 Nathan Collins
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Joe Coyd
4 Jack Brown
5 Lewis King
Subs (all used)
6 Finlay O’Neill
7 Mason Billington
8 Tristan Norfolk

Tries: Collins (2, 26, 53, 80), Hawkins (7, 16, 29, 33, 38, 42, 47, 55, 58, 63, 74), Coyd (23), Billington (61), Brown (76)
Goals: Collins 9/11, Hawkins 4/7

WALES
1 Sid Ramsey
10 Mark Williams
5 Jodie Boyd-Ward
7 Stuart Williams
9 Matthew Turner
Subs (all used)
2 Fionn McCabe
6 Jonathan Gill
11 John Berriman

Tries: S Williams (11), Ramsey (19, 71)
Goals: Turner 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 18-6, 18-12, 24-12, 30-12, 36-12, 42-12, 46-12; 52-12, 56-12, 62-12, 68-12, 72-12, 76-12, 82-12, 82-18, 88-18, 94-18, 98-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
England: Rob Hawkins; Wales: Sid Ramsey

Penalty count: 3-5
Half-time: 46-12
Referees: Tim Robinson and Karli Wilkinson
Attendance: 1,008