ENGLAND 68 IRELAND 32
IAN GOLDEN, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Friday
IRELAND shocked England for nearly half an hour, but in the end, the World Cup holders showed why they are such.
The Irish showed a few tricks and scored some great tries, but England got themselves together and scored 58 points without reply to secure the win and top spot in the group.
After England were denied an early try, Ireland attacked and scored straight away. Jack Mangan was stopped at the first attempt, then Peter Johnston reached out to score from the next play. He converted his own try before adding a penalty to put Ireland 8-0 up in as many minutes.
Ireland were playing a fast, tough game and Toby Burton-Carter had a chance to score their second try, but mishandled as he looked to collect down the wing.
However, Burton-Carter did eventually score and he was on the end of a stunning move that fooled England. Johnston sold a dummy on the play-the-ball and offloaded to Joe Calcott who set up Burton-Carter to score in the corner, where Johnston converted.
England, who have never lost to anyone other than France, knew that they needed a comeback quickly and captain Lewis King scored their first try on 21 minutes.
But Ireland were soon back in control. Oran Spain was next to score, grounding under the sticks and converting his own try.
Spain was close to getting his second after another good Irish move, but just failed on what was the final tackle of a set.
England hit back again after being awarded a penalty close to the Ireland goal, with Joe Coyd finding his way under the sticks and Collins converting.
From kick-off, King followed him over for his second and England’s third try. Collins converted to put England just four points behind.
Then with five minutes to go before half-time, Rob Hawkins sped through and Collins converted to give England the lead for the first time in the match to make it 22-20 at the interval.
And Super League’s top two performers helped increase England’s lead just four minutes into the second half. Hawkins touched down and Coyd was next over, with Collins converting both.
Hawkins’ hat-trick try was a stunner as he leapt on to a grubber to ground. Collins converted and England, after just ten second-half minutes were, unfortunately for Ireland, now out of sight.
Coyd claimed his hat-trick on 53 minutes, and nine minutes later a Mason Billington try brought up the half century for England. Coyd soon registered England’s tenth try.
Billington added another, scoring in the corner, with Collins kicking wide for just the second time in the match.
Ireland didn’t want to remain scoreless in the second half and Calcott fought hard to get over the line for a try back on 73 minutes which Johnston converted.
England hit back straight back and Calcott’s brother, Jack Brown, wasn’t going to be upstaged as he increased his side’s lead, with Finlay O’Neill converting.
But it was left to Ireland to wrap up the match as Mangan sped past the England line to pick the ball and score. Johnston, who open the scoring, closed it as the hooter sounded.
Ireland may have been beaten but their heads were held high.
GAMESTAR: Joe Coyd came on after 18 minutes and helped steady the ship to lead England to a win.
GAMEBREAKER: Rob Hawkins’ try on 50 minutes. England were now on a roll and they weren’t going to let their lead slip.
MATCHFACTS
ENGLAND
1 Finlay O’Neill
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Tristan Norfolk
4 Jack Brown
5 Lewis King
Subs (all used)
6 Nathan Collins
7 Mason Billington
8 Joe Coyd
Tries: King (21, 31), Coyd (29, 47, 53, 62), Hawkins (36, 44, 50), Billington (61, 69), Brown (76)
Goals: Collins 9/11, O’Neill 1/1
IRELAND
9 Joe Calcott
1 Oran Spain
5 Mel Griffith
12 Jack Mangan
8 Peter Johnston
Subs (all used)
4 Toby Burton-Carter
6 Tom Martin
11 Maurice Noonan
Tries: Johnston (5), Burton-Carter (17), Spain (24), Calcott (73), Mangan (79)
Goals: Johnston 5/5, Spain 1/1
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-8, 0-14, 4-14, 4-20, 10-20, 16-20, 22-20; 28-20, 34-20, 40-20, 46-20, 52-20, 58-20, 62-20, 62-26, 68-26, 68-32
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
England: Joe Coyd; Ireland: Joe Calcott
Penalty count: 5-7
Half-time: 22-20
Referees: Stephane Vincent and Laurent Bonnet
