AN ENGLAND side featuring four Saints players wrapped up the test series against Samoa with a 34-16 win at Headingley.
Star of the show was former Newton Storm junior Herbie Farnworth whose side-stepping feet and strong running saw him score twice and set another up for Jack Welsby and one for Liam Marshall.
After a tight opening quarter, in which the visitors led for a spell, England pulled away to lead 22-6 at half time.
A big influence in that scoreline blowout was the harsh 25th minute sin-binning of Junior Pauga as prior to that the scoreline was 8-6 with Marshall cancelling out Shawn Anae Ulisese’s score.
When it was 13 v 12, England pulled away with quickfire tries for George Williams and Matty Ashton.
Just before the break Farnworth’s quality footwork yielded a killer score.
Although Jake Tago crossed for Samoa four minutes after the restart another Farnworth try and then the one he set up for Welsby put the game to bed.
Samoa did have the last word when Jarome Luai’s perfectly placed kick was touched down by Jeremiah Nanai.
Apart from Welsby, the other Saints on duty for the second week running were Daryl Clark, Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees. The latter of those was limping towards the end, but not seriously enough to leave the pitch.
England: Welsby; Ashton, Newman, Farnworth, Marshall; Williams, Smith; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Nsemba, Radley. Subs: Lewis, Knowles, McMeeken, Thompson. 18th: Currie.
Samoa: Tuivasa-Check; Skelton, Tago, Pauga, Mariner; Seuala-Talagi, Luai; Molo, Tevaga, May, Ulisese, Nanai, Leilua. Subs: Sasagi, Palasia, Vaalepu, Kum Tong. 18th: Milford.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here