International England v Samoa: two Test series.

[moto748]

First test this afternoon at Wigan. Weather fine and sunny, quite mild (I went on my motorbike!).

England (16) 34

Tries: Farnworth, Ashton (2), Williams, Radley, Lewis Goals: Smith (5)

Samoa (6) 18

Tries: Mariner (2), Chan Kum Tong Goals: Pauga (3)

Decent performance from England, despite a few dubious selections for many fans. Samoa didn't seem to wake up until they were three scores down, but showed much better in the second half, although their score-line was flattered a bit by two interception tries gifting them twelve points. I thought McMeeken, Havard and Burgess were very good upfront, and handled the Samoan big lads no trouble. Herbie was Herbie, and wasn't it great to see him playing at Wigan; what a player he is. Ashton was also excellent, and both halves had a good game.

 

[moto748]

Second Test at Headingley:

England (22) 34

Tries: Marshall, Williams, Ashton, Farnworth (2), Welsby Goals: Smith (5)

Samoa (6) 16

Tries: Blore, Tago, Nanai Goals: Pauga (2)

England clinch the series win with a convincing victory against a nevertheless much-improved Samoa side. Herbie once again the star of the show. It doesn't seem five minutes since I was being told by posters here that he was rubbish, and had no pace, and Katoni Staggs was a far superior centre. Harry Smith and George Williams very good in the halves, and a much delayed first England cap for Liam Marshall, who has excelled for Wigan this season; SL's top try-scorer by a distance, and delighted to see him get over the line with a trade-mark try.