England men and women ease to wins in opening games at World Cup 9s

James Gordon

It was a routine start to the 9s World Cup in Australia for England’s men and women.

The women soaked up some early pressure from the Papua New Guinea Orchids before taking the lead in the fifth minute, Faye Gaskin putting Rhiannon Marshall under the posts for a five point bonus try.

Caitlin Beevers got on the scoresheet as England took an 11-4 lead in to half time and they cut loose in the second half as the Orchids tired.

Marshall grabbed her second off Jodie Cunningham’s pass before further tries from captain Emily Rudge and Leah Burke rounded off a 25-4 win.

England men breezed past Wales by the same scoreline, 25-4, with Sam Tomkins in imperious form.

Daryl Clark went over to get the scoring underway before a step sent Tomkins away on a blistering break, he passed inside to Gareth Widdop who then returned the ball for Tomkins to touch down inside the posts.

The lead was 17-0 at half time after Jermaine McGillvary went over wide out.

Jake Connor then got the first of his two tries, a long pass by Tomkins on the last tackle was followed by a wonderful offload by James Graham, before Tomkins set up Connor’s second with a flick pass.

Wales did at least avoid a whitewash, Elliott Kear’s step and kick ended with Mike Butt beating McGillvary to the corner.

RESULTS

France 8-12 Lebanon

England 25-4 Papua New Guinea (women)

England 25-4 Wales

International England

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