Pictures Eddie Whitham
WARRINGTON’S George Williams was named man-of-the-match as England all but secured their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a fairly comfortable 42-18 victory over France in Bolton.
With two wins from two games after thrashing Samoa in their opening match and a points difference of +78 at the top of Group A England will aim to complete a flawless passage to the knockout stages when they face debutants Greece in their final group game in Sheffield next Saturday.
While Williams, Warrington’s only player in the England squad, impressed at half-back winger Ryan Hall extended his try-scoring record for England with two in the opening 11 minutes, finishing off swift team moves into the corner, and Luke Thompson added a third try.
After a poor start, France hit back asArthur Mourgue reacted quickest to a ricochet from his own grubber kick and Eloi Pelissier forced his way over from close range for an 18-12 half-time deficit.
Elliott Whitehead and Victor Radley crossed early in the second half and winger Dominic Young added two more for England , including a superb length-of-the-field try, while Arthur Romano scored a consolation for France late on.
The French, who host the next World Cup in 2025, defeated Greece in their first game and were only a converted try behind at the break but England – who as expected – ran away with the contest in the second half.
Meanwhile, Warrington’s host team Papua New Guinea, while be hoping to take a step nearer a possible quarter-final showdown with England when they take on the Cook Islands at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Tuesday evening, following their unlucky defeat to Tonga.
England: Tomkins; Young, Watkins, Farnworth, Hall; Sneyd, Williams; Burgess, McIlorum, Hill, Whitehead, Bateman, Radley.
Interchanges: Welsby, Oledzki, Thompson, Ackers.
France: Escare; Romano, Jullien, Langi, Laguerre; Mourgue, Gigot; Dezaria, Da Costa, Belmas, Goudemand, Seguier, Garcia.
Interchanges: Pelissier, Sangare, Springer, Le Cam.
