The second game between England and France brought the 2012 Rugby League Autumn Internationals to a close. As expected England cruised to a simple win 48-4. This time France did turn up and at times competed and forced a few errors from England. Not least several penalties around the twenty minute mark ending right on the England line, that had it been Australia or New Zealand one feels sure would have led to tries and perhaps a different result.
Billed as the final of the series Salford Stadium with just under 8,000 fans hosted another thumping win for England, following up the round robin win last week 44-6. This match and the French seemed to be more committed and it took until the ninth minute for the first score from Ryna Hall, duly converted by Kevin Sinfield 6-0, it was a sweet move with the forwards hitting up midfield and slick hands creating room out side. The next try took some time to come and included a dummy and step from Sam Tomkins as he went over on twenty-four minutes Sinfield converted 12-0. The last score of the first period saw Ryna Hall ver for his second and with the conversion we has 18-0 half-time.
Just four minutes into the second period and the England try machine was off again. Josh Charnley going over, followed three minutes later by Ryan Hall claiming his hat trick. Further tries followed on fifty six minutes as Sam Tomkins claimed his second, then Ryan Hall got his fourth and picked up the man of the match award as well. This try was a peach started on his own line by Rangi Chase and supported by Sam Tomkins who offloaded to Hall who had to sprint the last 20 meters. These scores with the conversions brought us up to 48-0. Though it was the French who had the last hurrah as Mathias Pala was quickest to pounce on a kick ahead which eluded a couple of diving Englishmen. The extras were not added and so it ended:
England 48-4 France.
Scorers
England
Tries: Hall 4, Tomkins 2, Charnley, Burrow
Goals: Sinfield 8
France
Tries: Pala
Teams
England: Tomkins; Charnley, Watkins, Cudjoe, Hall; Sinfield, Chase; Mossop, McIlorum, Hill, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, O’Loughlin. Replacements: Burrow, Ablett, Hock, Morley.
France: Soubeyras, Sadaoui, Larroyer, Duport, Pala, Bosc, Barthau, Fakir, K. Bentley, Casty, Elima, Raguin, Baitieri. Replacements: Bemba, Gigot, Bousquet, Griffi.
Referee: S.Rehm
Attendance: 7,921
Next up will be the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the England fixtures:
Sat 26 Oct England v Australia
Sat 2 Nov England v Ireland
Sat 9 Nov England v Fiji