ENGLAND men are mathematically still in the World Cup – but only mathematically.
In a remarkable contest at WIN Stadium, England looked on track to run up the required cricket score to avoid missing the semis for the first time when they led 22-0 after 20 minutes.
Then the wheels completely fell off.
Not only did their hopes of running up the required score disappear into the nearby Pacific but they found themselves in a battle just to win the game.
They went 49 minutes without scoring a try.
For the record, Tonga needs to beat Samoa on Sunday at Commbank Stadium by a half century for England to progress.
Needing to make up a points differential of almost 70 points, England started optimistically.
By the 20th minute, Brian McDermott’s side led 22-0 after tries to winger Matty Ashton (6th minute), fullback AJ Brimson (12), winger Dom Young (18) and halfback Harry Smith (20).
But then England started to rush things and plays broke down. Papua New Guinea weren’t presenting much of a threat but the English were getting in their own way.
After halftime, the Kumuls offered plenty in attack.
First winger Dudley Dotoi won the race for a kick into the southeastern corner. Then exciting five-eighth Gairo Voro threw a king-sized dummy and flashed over to the left of the posts.
England finally managed a try with 11 to go – from Morgan Knowles – which assured them of a victory but not much else.
ENGLAND 34 (Ashton Brimson Young Smith Knowles Lewis tries Savala 5 goals) beat PAPUA NEW GUINEA 12 (Dotoi Voro tries Martin 2 goals) at WIN Stadium. Crowd: 15,063.
Teams:
ENGLAND: AJ Brimson (Gold Coast); Dom Young (Newcastle), Hugo Savala (Sydney), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Matty Ashton (Warrington); George Williams (c, Warrington), Harry Smith (Wigan); Max King (Canterbury), Jez Litten (Hull KR), Luke Thompson (Wigan), Junior Nsemba (Wigan), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), Morgan Knowles (Dolphins).
Reserves: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Sam Walters (Wigan), Ethan Havard (Wigan), Brad O’Neill (Wigan), Zach Eckersley (Wigan), Kallum Watkins (Leeds).
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Zac Laybutt (North Queensland); Robert Derby (North Queensland), Josh Feledy (Manly), Robert Mathias (London), Dudley Dotoi (Townsville); Gairo Voro (London), Bailey Biondi-Odo (Townsville); Epel Kapinias (London), Liam Horne (Leigh), Valentine Richard (PNG Hunters), Rhyse Martin (c, Hull KR), Nixon Putt (Central Queensland), Luca Moretti (Parramatta).
Reserves: Nene Macdonald (St Helens), Finley Glare (London), Jacob Taulani, Sanny Wabo (PNG Hunters), Zev John (Central Queensland), Alex Max (London).
Referee: Gerard Sutton.
