England 16-46 Australia
Australia were comfortable winners of the Four Nations cup
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Saturday, 14, Nov 2009 10:51
By Tom Powell.
Australia ground down a resurgent England side to record a 46-16 win in the final of the Gillette Four Nations.
The hosts began well at Elland Road but fell short of repeating the performance that saw them defeat New Zealand last weekend to reach the final.
Both sides crossed the line twice in the first half but the boot of Jonathan Thurston gave Australia a 14-10 lead.
England nudged ahead with an early Sam Burgess try in the second half but six unanswered tries, including a Billy Slater hat-trick, gave Australia a comfortable win.
England made the more encouraging start and Australia needed Slater to dab down a Kevin Sinfield grubber with the English attackers hovering close by.
Michael Shenton's crunching hit on Darren Lockyer was a signal of the host's intent to cause an upset as the Tigers man sent the Brisbane man sprawling in the opening minutes.
It was Shaun Briscoe's turn moments later to save his team with some last ditch defence. The Hull KR full-back knocking the ball from Brett Morris' grasp with the winger ready to touch down.
Minutes later the hosts took the lead with a flowing, pitch length move that ended with Burgess dummying two Australian defenders and flying in at the corner. Sinfield added the extras to make it 6-0.
The hosts could have stretched the lead soon after before Australia had a chance to level matters.
First Burgess failed to offload to Sam Tomkins who had a simple run in and then Thurston picked off James Graham's pass and found Greg Inglis who was halted metres from the English line.
The Australians had twice come close but made no mistake at the third time of asking.
England were cut open by a quick, simple move down the right and Morris finished with ease in the corner. Thurston's conversion made it 6-6 with 14 minutes gone.
England were undeterred by the setback and back in the lead five minutes later. Peter Fox beat Jarryd Hayne to Kyle Eastmond's high, hanging kick and touched down in the corner. Sinfield was off target with the conversion but the hosts led 10-6.
However, not to be outdone Australia hit back with a contender for try of the tournament to take a 12-10 lead.
Hayne atoning for his earlier error with a break down the left before kicking ahead for the onrushing Inglis who, after consultation from the video referee, scored in the corner. Thurston converted from the touchline.
Thurston's form with the boot continued as he slotted a penalty after Gareth Ellis was penalised for obstruction to make it 14-10.
Inglis' try looked to have taken the wind out of the English sales but Eastmond wriggled to within inches of the Australia line as they looked to retake the lead with half-time approaching.
England spent the first ten minutes of the second half in the Australian half and were rewarded when Burgess crashed over from close range after Ellis' short pass. Sinfield's conversion from straight in front gave England a 16-14 lead.
That lead was short lived as Slater sniped over from close range despite the attention of Tomkins five minutes later.
The try was the result of a needless penalty given away by Sinfield that gave the Australians possession 20m from England's whitewash. Thurston pulled his conversion wide but Australia led 18-16.
Despite their fast start to the second half, England found themselves further behind on the hour as Morris grabbed his second try of the night.
Tomkins' error gave Australia good field position and Thurston kicked through on the last tackle and found Morris who beat Ryan Hall to the ball to touch down and give his side a 22-16 lead.
England were looking tired and a Cameron Smith try followed soon after by Slater's second with 11 minutes remaining killed them off.
First Slater juggled Lockyer's kick through and tapped the ball back for Smith who plunged on the ball before Briscoe and from the kick off Lockyer released Slater to run in under the posts. Thurston added the simple conversions to make it 34-16.
It was damage limitations now for England but they could not prevent Hayne getting his name on the scoresheet as he dabbed down Thurston grubber through. The latter's sixth conversion brought the score up to 40-16.
It was harsh on England but the Australian attack was a joy to behold and they added their eighth try with two minutes remaining. Kurt Gidley broke away down the right and chipped ahead for Slater to complete his hat-trick. Thurston took his personal points tally to 14 to make the final score 46-16.