The Gillette Four Nations rugby league match between England and France at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium on Friday Oct 23, 2009.
England put in an impressive second-half performance to get their Four Nations campaign off to a winning start against France in Doncaster.
Lee Smith opened the scoring early on, only for France to recover in style with well-taken replies from Vincent Duport and Kane Bentley.
Thomas Bosc added two goals for the French side while Sam Burgess and James Graham squandered good opportunitie! s for England. The hosts tried to hit back but squandered a good opportunity when Burgess knocked on from a James Graham pass.
France looked the more accomplished side and a high kick from Bosc had the hosts back-tracking, but Ben Westwood tidied up. The French were particularly strong in the tackle and forced Westwood to concede possession as three men hit the Warrington forward in a stern triple challenge.
An opportunity opened up for England five minutes before half-time but Graham knocked on in front of the posts. England got themselves back into the game three minutes after the restart when Richie Myler evaded a tackle 20 metres out and found a gap to force his way over.
Kevin Sinfield added the extras but France threatened again when Toulouse scrum-half James Wynn found his way to the line, only to be pulled back for obstruction.
It fell to new Warrington signing Myler to dig England out of their ! predicament, offering good support to Sinfield and scoring af! ter a st rong run from the Leeds skipper.
That put England back into the lead and Sinfield touched down moments later from a Jamie Peacock offload. With two more Sinfield goals, England were starting to breathe more easily at 22-12.
As the pressure reduced England increased their attackign threat with Ryan Hall and Hull winger Tom Briscoe both going over for tries to wrap up a morale-boosting victory for England.
Team details
England: S. Briscoe, T. Briscoe, Smith, Shenton, Hall, McGuire, Myler, Morley, Moore, Peacock, Ellis, Burgess, Sinfield.
Replacements: Graham, Roby, Westwood, Eastmond.
France: Greenshields, Duport, Raguin, Baile, Pelo, Bosc, Wymm, Ferriol, Bentley, Casty, Elima, Gagliazzo, Fakir.
Replacements: Billggas, Sadaoui, Martins, Touxagas.
Referee: Leon Williamson (New Zealand)
- Saturday Oct 24: Australia v New Zealand (Twickenham Stoop, 8pm)
- Oct 31: England v Australia (DW Stadium, Wigan, 2.30pm); France v New Zealand (Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, 5pm)
- Nov 7: France v Australia (Charlety Stadium, Paris, 2.30pm); England v New Zealand (Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, 6pm)
- Nov 14: Final (Elland Road, Leeds, 7.30pm)
