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Rugby League

England warm-up for World Cup by thumping Wales

10/10/2008

England crushed Wales 74-0 at the Keepmost Stadium in their final warm-up game before the rugby league World Cup.

The hosts ran in 14 tries with captain Martin Gleeson, Shaun Briscoe, Richard Myler and Paul Sykes scoring two tries each.

Mark Calderwood, Tony Clubb, Gareth Hock, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Peter Fox also crashed over while Harlequins captain Rob Purdham starred with 22-points after a try and nine goals.

It was England's biggest-ever win over Wales and was achieved without the St Helens and Leeds players who were rested after last weekend's Grand Final.

It meant that just eight of Tony Smith's 24-man squad for the World Cup were on display, giving fringe players such as debutant Purdham to impress.

And Purdham did just that by scoring the game's opening try on seven minutes before Sykes added a second.

Gleeson was the next to benefit from some woeful Dragons defending to touch down, followed by Myler crashing over.

Gleeson soon went over for his second try to give England a 42-0 lead at the break.

The second-half was a similar affair with Clubb crashing over on his debut seconds after the restart.

Hock scored England's seventh try before McCarthy-Scarsbrook dived over from close range. In the closing minutes, Briscoe scored his second try of the match from Myers' pass while winger Fox sealed the rout.

England start their World Cup campaign against Papua New Guinea in Townsville on October 25th.