England were just 20 seconds away from reaching the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final but fell to a last-minute Shaun Johnson try.
The Kiwis got repeat sets in the final minutes with Johnson skipping past England skipper Kevin Sinfield and side-stepping George Burgess for a solo try that made the score 18-all, Johnson calmly adding the extras.
After being level at 8-8 at the interval Kiwi winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck stepped past Gareth Widdop to put the defending champions ahead, Johnson missed the conversion but added a penalty later in a period of the game when England conceded a number of penalties.
England skipper Sinfield provided the pass for Leeds teammate Kallum Watkins to score and it was Sinfield who paved the way for man of the match Sam Burgess to go over, Sinfield’s conversion putting England four points ahead.
Full report & reaction in Monday’s League Express
Westwood went close soon after but it was Johnson’s late try that won the game and sent the Kiwis to Old Trafford.
