England rally to see off France
Kevin Sinfield (pictured tackling France's David Ferriol) added ten points with the boot
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Friday, 23, Oct 2009 09:48
By Tom Powell.
England recorded an unconvincing 34-12 win over France in the opening fixture of the Gillette Four Nations.
After a disappointing opening period the hosts rallied to win at the Keepmoat Stadium but will have to play a lot better when they come up against the might of Australia and New Zealand.
Two tries in two minutes from Vincent Duport and Kane Bentley in reply to Lee Smith’s opening score gave France a 12-4 half-time lead.
Five tries including two from Richie Myler saw England home in the second half, with Kevin Sinfield grabbing a personal tally of fourteen points.
After a tentative opening England grabbed the first score through Leeds Rhinos winger Smith with 14 minutes on the clock.
The French defence nowhere to be seen as the makeshift centre slid over in the corner. Sinfield pushed his conversion attempt wide.
The hosts didn’t hold the lead for long and were soon trailing thanks to Duport’s 19th minute try.
The Catalans Dragons winger latching onto Clint Greenshield’s offload and going over in the corner. Thomas Bosc’s conversion put France 6-4 ahead.
A minute later and the lead was stretched to 12-4 after Bentley darted over from dummy-half following Scott Moore’s loose pass. Bosc added the extras.
Four minutes into the second half and England were right back in it. Myler finding a gap in the French defence and touching down under the posts. Sinfield’s conversion reducing the deficit to 12-10.
England were now on the front foot took total control with two tries in as many minutes through Myler and Sinfield.
First Sinfield broke through and fed Myler who grabbed his second of the night before the Leeds captain strolled over following a smart offload from Peacock.
Sinfield added both conversions to make it 22-12.
With 15 minutes to go Ryan Hall put the game beyond doubt with England’s fifth try of the night.
The Rhinos’ winger intercepting a loose French pass and racing the whole length of the pitch to score. Sinfield added his fourth conversion from out wide.
The game petered out in the last ten minutes but there was enough time for Tom Briscoe to get England’s sixth try with three minutes to go.
The winger latched onto a grubber from Kyle Eastmond to round off a much improved second half from England.
France’s misery was compounded when Jean Philippe-Baile was sent-off for a cynical challenge on Myler as England ran out 34-12 winners.