Jake Connor enjoyed a birthday to remember as England started their World Cup Nines campaign with a 25-4 victory.
The Hull FC participant ran in two tries as Wayne Bennetts men started their campaign with an emphatic win on day one, making it a memorable birthday to get Connor.
England led 17-0 at half-time in their Pool B match from Daryl Clark and Sam Tomkins being a five-pointer for the Catalans Dragons back down in the incentive zone behind the articles.
There wasnt any let-up after the break either and Jermaine McGillvary got the ball rolling with Englands third try, followed by Connor striking twice following the break prior to Mike Butt caught an unconverted consolation score for Wales.
25-4 was also won by englands women against Papua New Guinea in their opening match. Rhiannon Marshall crossed together with the others coming from Caitlin Beevers, captain Emily Rudge and Leah Burke.
This was arguably the Cook Islands who left the largest impact of this afternoon, but delighting the crowd at Sydneys Bankwest Stadium in Pool C. within their win over Tonga Invitational side
Kayal Iro – boy of former Wigan and St Helens player Kevin – led the way while Aaron Teroi, Steven Experts, Reuben Rennie and Anthony Gelling added the others.
Hosts Australia enjoyed a double triumph against rivals New Zealand, starting with all the Jillaroos beating the Kiwi Ferns 22-8 in the womens competition.
Ali Brigginshaw scored with a great solo try after chasing her own kick and put up Tiana Penitani to score as well, together Corban McGregor becoming over to secure the triumph and Keeley Davis.
From the mens tournament, two attempts from Melbourne Storm speedster Josh Addo-Carr and also Brisbane Broncos David Fifita place course for 25-8 win over the Kiwis with the Kangaroos in Pool A.
Lebanon kicked off the tournament with a win together with Bilal Maarbani and two conversions in Jayden.
While day one with a 27-10 win rounded off over the USA samoa defeated Fiji 32-17 on the back of Brian Toos double and one apiece from David Nofoaluma and Jarome Luai.
Doncaster half-back Watson Boas and Barrow Raiders winger Stargroth Amean were one of the Kumuls try-scorers.
France 8-12 Lebanon, England Women 25-4 Papua New Guinea Women, England 25-4 Wales, Tonga 30-7 Cook Islands, Samoa 32-17 Fiji Australia 25-8 New Zealand, Papua New Guinea 27-10 USA
New Zealand Women vs Papua New Guinea Women (1.30am), France vs Wales (1.55m ), England vs Lebanon (2.20m ), Samoa vs Cook Islands (2.45am), Tonga vs Fiji (3.10m ), New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea (3.45m ), Australia vs USA (4.10m ), Australia Women vs England Women (4.35m ), Lebanon vs Wales (5am), England vs France (5.25am) 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 closing (11am)
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