- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It wasn’t pretty, but Australia have picked up a tough 14-point victory over England to kick-off the Rugby League World Cup in Melbourne on Friday evening.
England took an early lead thanks to a strong start and Jermaine McGilvary try, but it would be the last time Wayne Bennett’s side troubled the scorers all night as Australia scored three tries and a penalty goal to take victory.
Australia looked shell-shocked coming out of the blocks. If anything, their execution was off with it obvious no one had been on a rugby league field for a month as England found their way onto the front foot, sending McGilvary over for a great opening try.
Mistakes flowed through the first half for both sides, but Australia went on to dominate for most of the 25 minutes leading into halftime, having most of the possession and field position.
England’s defence was superb, but they let in two first half tries, Australia taking a 10-4 lead to halftime on the back of Matt Gillett and Billy Slater tries. Both were soft, but England, looking tired made it to halftime without conceding again.
In what proved to be a killer blow for England, Sam Burgess was ruled out of the rest of the match with a knee injury just before halftime. He will have scans tomorrow with hopes he will be back on the field next Saturday against Lebanon.
The second half was back and forth, but England were undoubtedly the better team despite not being able to crack the Australian defensive line. They had a multitude of chances, but errors close to the line, as well as a solid Aussie defence held them out.
Wade Graham picked up a dubious penalty just give mintues from fulltime, allowing Cameron Smith to put Australia in front by eight with a penalty goal, before Josh Dugan ran away off a kick to ice the game for Australia.
The win leaves Australia sitting pretty at the top of Group A, likely to avoid a semi-final with New Zealand. They will take on France next Friday evening in Canberra.
Australia 18
England 4