AUSTRALIA 42 ENGLAND 48
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Sunday

JOE COYD scored a late winner as England came from behind to edge past Australia in a thrilling second Test and secure the Wheelchair Ashes.

After England won the first game of a two-match series 56-28, the improving Wheelaroos led 30-18 at half-time and 42-26 approaching the hour mark.

Jack Brown made a big difference off the bench, and after scoring one and creating another for Lewis King at the start of the second half, his next try set England’s full comeback in motion.

Brown then provided for King again before the captain completed his hat-trick and Nathan Collins added his fourth of five conversions to level with 16 minutes remaining.

Only in the 79th minute did the deciding score come, as England pulled the Australian defence narrow before Mason Billington picked out Coyd’s run wide.

Rob Hawkins earlier scored two tries, alongside one from Finlay O’Neill, as England completed an enthralling series win.

Bayley McKenna starred for Australia with two tries and seven goals, but they fell agonisingly short of a first victory over England.

Their performances in their series augur well for next year’s home World Cup, however, and the wheelchair game may soon have a third power alongside the English and French.

Diab Karim crashed over to give them a second-minute lead, although Hawkins latched onto a long Coyd kick to soon level.

Collins and King then combined to provide O’Neill with a try, to which McKenna responded off a Zac Schumacher pass for 12-12.

An exceptional pass by Collins, flicking the ball out the back at high speed, gave Hawkins his second but Australia scored three in the ten minutes before half-time.

Two fantastic team tries, at the end of which McKenna played in Adam Tannock and then Daniel Anstey, were followed by McKenna’s second score from a Schumacher pass for a twelve-point lead at the break.

England, who have Luis Domingos his international debut off the bench, started the second half well as Hawkins played in Brown before the latter set up King.

But Hawkins missed both goals – after Collins was perfect from the tee in the first half – so they stayed four points behind.

When Schumacher sliced through the middle for a 53rd-minute try, putting the Wheelaroos 14 points ahead, history appeared to be close.

But a hot spell of three tries in six minutes, consisting of Brown’s second (converted by Hawkins) and two more for King, levelled things up.

Collins lost the ball when going for the line nine minutes from time, leaving Coyd to instead provide the heroics.

GAMESTAR: Jack Brown was a real driving force for England in their second-half turnaround.

GAMEBREAKER: Joe Coyd’s try finally settled a humdinger of a contest.

MATCHFACTS
AUSTRALIA
2 Daniel Anstey (Gold Coast Titans)
7 Bayley McKenna (Brothers Townsville)
8 Zac Schumacher (Brothers Townsville)
9 Adam Tannock (Townsville Marlins)
12 Diab Karim (Parramatta Eels)
Subs
1 Peter Arbuckle (Gold Coast Titans) (not used)
3 Brad Grove (Parramatta Eels) (not used)
6 Cory Cannane (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Tries: Karim (2), McKenna (21, 36), Tannock (30), Anstey (34, 49), Schumacher (53)
Goals: McKenna 7/7

ENGLAND
1 Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos)
2 Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers)
3 Joe Coyd (London Roosters)
4 Lewis King (London Roosters)
10 Finlay O’Neill (Halifax Panthers)
Subs (all used)
5 Mason Billington (London Roosters)
7 Luis Domingos (Castleford Tigers)
8 Jack Brown (Halifax Panthers)

Tries: Hawkins (8, 27), O’Neill (14), Brown (43, 58), King (45, 60, 64), Coyd (79)
Goals: Collins 5/5, Hawkins 1/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 6-12, 12-12, 12-18, 18-18, 24-18, 30-18; 30-22, 30-26, 36-26, 42-26, 42-32, 42-36, 42-42, 42-48

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
Australia: Bayley McKenna; England: Jack Brown

Half-time: 30-18