By Ian Golden in Wollongong
Rob Hawkins ran the show for England as they opened their World Cup defence with a solid 98-18 win over a Wales side that didn’t give up.
The Welsh side, who fielded their third-youngest player of all time in Fionn McCabe, who only turned 16 this month, had their moments, but Hawkins was the catalyst for the win with his 52 points.
Joe Coyd, Mason Billington and Jack Brown also crossed the line for England. Collins contributed nine goals from 11 attempts, with Hawkins adding four goals from seven attempts.
Nathan Collins opened the scoring just 90 seconds in and finished the match with four tries and nine goals. Joe Coyd, Mason Billington and Jack Brown also crossed the line for England.
In the last World Cup, England put 125 points on Wales (wheelchair matches are normally double the score of a running match) so bettering that performance was always the first target, and England, who have a full-time head coach and plenty of resources, always knew that they were in a game.
Twice Wales denied England a second try with last-ditch tackles, as they defended their opponents’ second set well.
But after Wales couldn’t capitalise on an England error, Hawkins scored his first of the day after a fine passing move.
Wales soon got a try on the board. After winning a goal-line drop-out, Stuart Williams was given too much space to score his record-extending 74th try for Wales. Matthew Turner, another 16-year-old, who turns 17 on the day of the Ireland match, converted.
England soon extended their lead when Hawkins went over and Collins goaled, but from the restart, Sid Ramsey beat off Hawkins to score, and Turner converted again.
But England regained their two-try advantage on 23 minutes when Joe Coyd went in under the sticks and Collins converted, and they were 46-12 up at the break with Hawkins notching up his 100th try of the season.
The score went up to 82 before Wales got their third and final try. Player of the match Sid Ramsey fighting his way over for his second. Turner converted.
It looked like the match was going to end at 94-18, but a handling error gifted England a final try that Hawkins failed to convert.
