AUSTRALIA 28 ENGLAND 56
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Thursday
ROB HAWKINS scored a hat-trick as England survived a serious test to win the Wheelchair Ashes opener.
The scoreline did not reflect the majority of the game, in which England scored three tries in the first nine minutes and four in the final 13 of an otherwise tightly-fought battle.
Australia briefly led after Cory Cannane’s 55th-minute try but could not record a first ever victory over their opponents.
Instead a late flurry, including a debut try for Finlay O’Neill and two Hawkins scores, saw England take the lead in this two-match series.
An ill-disciplined start cost Australia, conceding three penalties in the opening five minutes which resulted in two tries.
Nathan Collins and Joe Coyd sliced through for the early scores, and then Hawkins chased down a Collins kick from deep to put England 16-0 up after ten minutes with a couple of Collins conversions.
But the remainder of the first half was nip and tuck, Australia getting on the board with their first attack as Zac Schumacher charged down the middle and converted his own try.
Mason Billington, making his first England start, made a try-saving tackle on Adam Tannock, then was denied his own score off a Hawkins break as he was judged to have been tackled before grounding.
Tour captain Lewis King extended England’s lead on the half hour when he took in a superb wide pass from Collins, who again converted.
But the hosts struck back on the stroke of half-time with neat play putting Daniel Anstey into the corner, and Schumacher’s goal made it 12-22 at the break.
It was truly game on when Schumacher darted in from close range in the first set of the restart, narrowing the gap to just four points with the conversion.
Collins responded with a similar effort for England, but a delightful offload from Diab Karim provided Anstey’s second try and brought the gap back to four at 22-26.
So when Cannane deceived the English defence and then raced through for a great try, Schumacher’s successful conversion put Australia in front for the first time.
However a knock-on presented the world champions with a chance to hit straight back, and Collins set up Billington then goaled to nudge them ahead again.
Back-to-back tries finally secured the England victory with ten minutes remaining, both created by quick play-the-balls and both converted by Hawkins.
Coyd allowed Jack Brown to set up a try for O’Neill, who then provided the quick ball to put Seb Bechara away to score.
Hawkins then had the final word with two converted tries in the final three minutes, the first a well-worked move through Coyd and Brown, and the second a top individual effort as he bounced off a tackle and accelerated through the middle.
The sides will do it all again on Sunday at the same venue.
GAMESTAR: Nathan Collins dictated play well for England.
GAMEBREAKER: Finlay O’Neill’s try sparked a dominant finish.
MATCHFACTS
AUSTRALIA
2 Daniel Anstey (Gold Coast Titans)
6 Cory Cannane (St George Illawarra Dragons)
8 Zac Schumacher (Brothers Townsville)
9 Adam Tannock (Townsville Marlins)
12 Diab Karim (Parramatta Eels)
Subs
1 Peter Arbuckle (Gold Coast Titans)
3 Brad Grove (Parramatta Eels) (not used)
7 Bayley McKenna (Brothers Townsville) (not used)
Tries: Schumacher (11, 42), Anstey (39, 50), Cannane (55)
Goals: Schumacher 4/5
ENGLAND
1 Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos)
2 Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers)
3 Joe Coyd (London Roosters)
4 Lewis King (London Roosters)
5 Mason Billington (London Roosters)
Subs (all used)
8 Jack Brown (Halifax Panthers)
9 Seb Bechara (Catalans Dragons)
10 Finlay O’Neill (Halifax Panthers)
Tries: Collins (2, 45), Coyd (6), Hawkins (9, 78, 80), King (29), Billington (58), O’Neill (67), Bechara (70)
Goals: Collins 4/6, Hawkins 4/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-16, 6-16, 6-22, 12-22, 18-22, 18-26, 22-26, 28-26, 28-32, 28-38, 28-44, 28-50, 28-56
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
Australia: Zac Schumacher; England: Nathan Collins
Penalty count: 5-7
Half-time: 12-22