England 16-46 Australia
Australia claimed the Gillette Four Nations trophy with a 46-16 defeat of England at Elland Road.
The game was a competitive one until just before the seventy-minute mark, when tries from Cameron Smith and Billy Slater ended the game as a contest.
The win will be used as proof that the Kangaroos remain the world’s best, despite New Zealand holding the World Cup.
England had the early pressure, but it was the visitors who went closest to scoring when Brett Morris fumbled the ball in attempting to score at the corner.
The hosts scored first from the 20-metre restart after Morris’ fumble, Sam Burgess supporting from dummy half and racing over the line, Kevin Sinfield converting.
Australia hit back almost immediately when Jonathon Thurston intercepted a pass from James Graham; England’s defence held firm until the last tackle before Brett Morris squeezed over at the corner.
Thurston converted to equalise, but England re-took the lead when Kyle Eastmond kicked to the corner and Peter Fox beat Jaryd Hayne to the ball.
The lead changed hands once more when Hayne’s well-aimed kick allowed Greg Inglis to score, despite the appearance of having knocked on, Thurston adding the goal to make the score 12-10.
A penalty was awarded to the Kangaroos when Gareth Ellis shoulder-barged Thurston, the scrum half converting the penalty for a 14-10 half-time lead.
Both sides went close to opening the second-half scoring but it was England who re-took the lead when Ellis’ pass allowed Burgess to cross beneath the posts, Sinfield converting.
Slater squeezed over from dummy half before Brett Morris touched down a well-placed kick from Thurston, Thurston’s conversion making the score 22-16.
The game was paused for a few minutes when Michael Shenton was knocked out in attempting a tackle, but fortunately the injuries was not as serious as first feared.
Australia ended the game as a contest with two tries in quick succession: first Slater brilliantly knocked a Lockyer kick back into the field of play for Smith to score.
Smith and Lockyer then combined for Slater to score, Thurston converting both tries to open up a 34-16 lead over the now-hapless English.
Hayne touched down a Lockyer kick to the in-goal area before Slater completed his hat-trick, Thurston improving both tries, to round off a well-deserved win.
England – 16
T: Burgess (11, 50); Fox (19)
G: Sinfield (11, 50)
Australia – 46
T: B. Morris (13, 59); Inglis (25); Slater (54, 69, 77); Smith (68); Hayne (73)
G: Thurston (13, 25, 32, 68, 69, 73, 77)
HT: 10-14
Ref: L. Williamson (NZ)
Att:
