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| England 35 France 18 Suncorp Stadium (before Broncos v Sharks) | ||
| Plucky England see of French in Student World Cup A WORKMANLIKE England side saw off a disappointing French outfit in their opening Student Rugby League World Cup match in Brisbane, Australia yesterday. It was thought the French side would turn on the style but they made too many basic errors. And even though England had prop Andrew Ali sent off for alleged striking around the half hour, they still had too much power for the French team who are playing in the competition for the first time. But both sides had a real taste of the big-time as the match was played as a curtain-raiser to the Aussie match between Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks at the Suncorp stadium Martin Ainscough got England on the scoreboard with a try which he converted after the French had made an early score with a penalty. Then Matt Mullholland got through the French defence after Kevin Till, who was a thorn in the side of the French all afternoon, had carved out an opening. Ainscough added the conversion. Quick hands from Mullholland got the ball out to Simon Edwards and the winger touched down for an unconverted try to make the score 16-2. Just as the game went into its second quarter full-back Alex Clemie raced some 70m for a fine solo effort and when France?s Romain Dintilhac went high on Clemie, Ainscough booted over the penalty to see England take a 22-2 lead. The French side were finding the going tough and were guilty of making basic errors. But they had a chance when they ran the ball after England were caught offside, and then it needed some good defence by the English to keep the French at bay. With some 32 minutes gone England were down to 12 men after Ali was sent off for alleged striking. But try as they might the men in blue could not find an immediate way to unlock the English defence and the score at the break was 22-2 to England. However the defensive effort probably did take its toll and the French picked up a try from Mohamed Chaabi in the corner on 53 minutes. But that only came after Ainscough had intercepted a pass at a scrum in the 48th minute and raced away to touch down for an unconverted try. Ainscough added a penalty before Till got through the French defence to make |
it 32-6 and Ainscough?s conversion made the score 34-6 in England?s favour. But when Clemie knocked a grubber kick on in the 73rd minute Robin Villa England: Article by Chris Leak
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