Jake Connor appreciated a birthday to remember as England opened their World Cup Nines campaign with a 25-4 victory over Wales.
The Hull FC player ran in two tries as Wayne Bennetts men began their campaign with an emphatic win which makes it a memorable 25th birthday to get Connor.
England led 17-0 in half-time within their Pool B game thanks to tries from Sam Tomkins and Daryl Clark being a five-pointer for the Catalans Dragons back dotting down in the incentive zone supporting the articles.
There was no let-up following the break both and Jermaine McGillvary got the ball rolling with the next try, followed by Connor striking twice following the break prior to Mike Butt grabbed an consolation rating of England.
Englands girls won 25-4 in their opening game against Papua New Guinea. Rhiannon Marshall crossed for two tries, with others coming from captain Emily Rudge, Caitlin Beevers and Leah Burke.
This was arguably the Cook Islands who left the days biggest impact, however, delighting the crowd at the Bankwest Stadium of Sydney in Pool C. in their win over Tonga Invitational side
Kayal Iro – boy of former Wigan and St Helens participant Kevin – led the way with two attempts, while Anthony Gelling, Steven Experts, Aaron Teroi and Reuben Rennie included the others.
Hosts Australia enjoyed a triumph starting with the Jillaroos beating on the Kiwi Ferns 22-8 in the womens competition.
Ali Brigginshaw scored a superb solo try after chasing her kick down and put Tiana Penitani up to score too, together with Keeley Davis.
In the mens championship, two attempts from Melbourne Storm speedster Josh Addo-Carr and also Brisbane Broncos David Fifita place the Kangaroos on track for 25-8 win over the Kiwis
Lebanon kicked off the tournament with a close-fought 12-8 win over France, with 2 conversions in Jayden and Bilal Maarbani.
While day one with a 27-10 win rounded off over the USA samoa defeated Fiji 32-17 on the rear of Brian Too plus 1 apiece from David Nofoaluma and Jarome Luai.
Barrow Raiders winger Stargroth Amean and doncaster half-back Watson Boas were one of the Kumuls try-scorers.
Papua New Guinea 27-10 USA, france 8-12 Lebanon, England Women 25-4 Papua New Guinea Women Tonga 30-7 Cook Islands, Samoa 32-17 Fiji Australia 25-8 New Zealand
New Zealand Women vs Papua New Guinea Women (1.30am), France vs Wales (1.55am), England vs Lebanon (2.20am), Samoa vs Cook Islands (2.45m ), Tonga vs Fiji (3.10am), New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea (3.45am), Australia vs USA (4.10m ), Australia Women vs England Women (4.35m ), Lebanon vs Wales (5am), England vs France (5.25m ) Fiji vs Cook Islands (6am), Tonga vs Samoa (6.25m ), New Zealand vs USA (6.50am), Australia vs Papua New Guinea (7.15am), Australia Women vs Papua New Guinea Women (7.40am), New Zealand Women vs England Women (8.05am), Mens semi-finals (8.55am and 9.20am), Womens final (9.45am), Mens final (11am)
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