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Wonderful Williams and strong back five: England draw first blood against Samoa

George Williams was at the heart of a fine England performance.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


England kept up their strong Test form with a 34-18 victory over Samoa in Wigan on Sunday afternoon. A stern performance, Shaun Wane’s outfit were deserved winners, with the squad tasting some satisfaction against the nation that knocked them out of the Rugby League World Cup two years ago.

Building on last year’s 3-0 whitewash of Tonga, the home side had a strong start to kick them into gear, racing ahead through Herbie Farnworth and Matty Ashton tries. They scored again through George Williams before Samoa hit back with a Deine Mariner intercept.

England started the second half strong as Victor Radley dived over, before Samoa hit back with a sublime effort from Mariner. However, a second try for Ashton put them in the ascendency, with Mikey Lewis adding the gloss. Samoa got the final say, with Gordon Chan Kum Tong racing away for a late score, but it was solely a consolation effort.

Quick start

Playing at pace, England were sensational early on, and it was all built on the back five of Jack Welsby, Dom Young, Harry Newman, Herbie Farnworth, and Matty Ashton. The latter in particular had Samoa’s right edge on toast. He helped get England on the front foot, carrying hard, winning penalties and finishing well. Arguably Super League’s best winger, Ashton has been superb for his club side Warrington Wolves this season, and that form continued for his country.

Elsewhere, Ashton’s centre partner Herbie Farnworth was excellent. He’s been up there with the best centres in the NRL this year and it showed. He scored the first try, with his step and offload for Victor Radley’s try nothing short of outrageous. A class act in what was a stern team performance.

Wonderful Williams

Shaun Wane named George Williams and Harry Smith in the halves and it paid dividends. Williams, as passionate as they get when it comes to the international game, was outstanding, with the Wire half involved in everything, in particular two early try assists before landing the third himself.

Meanwhile, Smith controlled the game on the back of an impressive forward pack and added the necessary composure, especially in the first half. It was a very disciplined showing with Mikey Lewis coming off the bench on the hour mark. The Hull KR star got on with his role at hooker with no fuss, showing the sort of professionalism that was synonymous with most of England’s display, adding a neat try late on.

Samoa improvement

While it takes nothing away from England, the tourists were well off the pace early on, just as they were in Newcastle for the World Cup opener two years ago. However, they grew into the contest, having their moments, including a sublime second half try from Deine Mariner. And while England have first blood and deserve credit for it, nothing is taken for granted, especially if history is any remainder. Samoa, as they were in that semi-final win, will be ten times better next week, that’s for sure, with England, who can take confidence from a strong show, needing to go to another level to wrap up the series at Headingley.

Teams

England Starting XIII: 1. Jack Welsby. 2. Dom Young, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Matty Ashton, 6. George Williams, 7. Harry Smith; 8. Ethan Havard, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Kai Pearce-Paul, 12. John Bateman, 13. Victor Radley.

Interchange: 14. Mikey Lewis, 15. Mike McMeeken, 16. Morgan Knowles, 17. Tom Burgess. 18th Man: 18. Ben Currie

Samoa Starting XIII: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck*, 2. Jeral Skelton*, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Junior Pauga*, 5. Deine Mariner*; 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Jarome Luai; 8. Francis Molo, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Terrell May; 11. Shawn Blore*, 12. Jeremiah Nanai*; 13. John Asiata

Interchange: 14. Blaize Seuala-Talagi*, 15. Luciano Leilua, 18. Gordon Chan Kum Tong, 17. Lazarus Vaalepu.* 18th Man: Keenan Palasia

Scorers

England Tries: Farnworth, Ashton 2, Williams, Radley, Lewis. Goals: Smith 5/6

Samoa Tries: Mariner 2, Kum Tong. Goals: Pauga 3/3

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