England has fired a warning across the bow of it’s World Cup rivals via a 74-nil thrashing of Wales.
England has fired a warning across the bow of it’s World Cup rivals via a 74-nil thrashing of Wales.
Despite missing the services of Leeds and St Helens players,the English possessed too much pace and power for a youthful and passionate Welsh squad.
There were 10 different tryscorers as Tony Smith's men smashed England's previous best win over Wales, a 60-13 triumph at St Helens in 1978, in a one-sided romp in front of an 11,263 crowd at the Keepmoat Stadium
Welsh fans in attendance weren’t left completely disappointed, with the entire team managing to sing the national anthem “Mae hen wlad fy nhadau” in tune.
Global Rugby League understands that some supporters of rival world cup teams have been left shaking in their boots as a result of England's impressive performance.
As a result they may require homeopathic anxiety drops to provide them with the courage to head down under in late October knowing that England could very well be the surprise meteorite of the tournament.
England 74 (Purdham, Briscoe 2, Sykes 2, Gleeson 2, Myler 2, Calderwood, Clubb, Hock, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Fox tries; Purdham 9 goals) d Wales 0 @ Doncaster Stadium. Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).
England: Shaun Briscoe (Hull Kingston Rovers); Peter Fox (Hull Kingston Rovers), Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers), Paul Sykes (Bradford Bulls), Mark Calderwood (Wigan Warriors); Martin Gleeson (Warrington Wolves, capt), Richie Myler (Salford City Reds); Stuart Fielden (Wigan Warriors), Mickey Higham (Wigan Warriors), Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins), Gareth Hock (Wigan Warriors), Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves), Rob Purdham (Harlequins). Subs: David Hodgson (Huddersfield Giants), Jamie Langley (Bradford Bulls), Darrell Griffin (Huddersfield Giants), Tony Clubb (Harlequins)
Wales: Dave Halley (Bradford Bulls), Damien Gibson (Halifax), Aled James (Celtic Crusaders), Lee Williams (Celtic Crusaders), Rhys Williams (Warrington Wolves), Mark Lennon (Celtic Crusaders), Ian Watson (Leigh Centurions), Craig Kopzcak (Bradford Bulls), Sean Penkywicz (Halifax), David Mills (Hull Kingston Rovers, capt), Ben Flower (Celtic Crusaders), Geraint Davies (Celtic Crusaders), Andy Bracek (Warrington Wolves). Subs: Rhys Griffiths (Castleford Tigers), Matt Barron (Gateshead Thunder), Jordan James (Celtic Crusaders), Gil Dudson (Celtic Crusaders)
