England’s slim hopes of a Rugby League World Cup semi-final berth survived a dramatic final day thanks to an 82-0 demolition of France in Perth. Facing a daunting 150-point deficit after Samoa’s earlier landslide victory, the hosts responded with a 14-try masterclass that significantly narrowed the scoring gap. The performance marked a stark contrast to their previous encounters, as England overcame a nervous opening phase to dominate possession and territory for the remainder of the contest.
Farnworth and Young hat-tricks secure massive scoring boost ahead of crucial Kumuls showdown.
Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young were the standout performers, both scoring hat-tricks to lead the charge. Farnworth crossed three times, while Young added three more, with Hugo Savala converting 13 of his 14 attempts to rack up 26 points. The depth of the squad was evident as Mikey Lewis, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Victor Radley, Jez Litten, Jack Welsby, and AJ Brimson also found the try line, ensuring England’s attack remained relentless from start to finish.
Despite the emphatic victory, England’s path to the last four remains precarious. They must secure another significant win against Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday to mathematically qualify. Additionally, the team will need a favorable result from Tonga’s match against Samoa on November 1. With the scoring difference now a critical factor, every point and try in the final pool round will be decisive in determining whether England advances or exits the tournament.
Source: Sky Sports
