Rugby League World Cup: England start World Cup with win over Australia England (26) 38Tries: Coyd 2, Brown 2, Collins 2, King Goals: Hawkins, Collins 4Australia (6) 8Tries: Karim Goals: Karim, McKenna
England got their Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 38-8 win over Australia.
Joe Coyd, Jack Brown and Nathan Collins scored two tries each as the hosts put up an early lead at London’s Copper Box Arena.
England, winners in 2008 and twice beaten finalists, are favorites for the title along with France.
Lewis King scored on his World Cup debut while Collins added four goals.
Described as ‘wheelchair rugby league’, the sport follows many of the principles of the running game and features a mix of crisp tackling, brilliant ball handling, tough defending, skill, athleticism and speed.
It also prides itself on its inclusion with disabled and non-disabled players being able to play in the same team at all levels, while male and female players can also line out together.
In front of a record crowd for the sport of 3,033, Australia started strongly and, moments after Diab Karim had a try disallowed, they forced a goal-line drop and a Rob Hawkins error allowed Karim to get on the early scoreboard.
England were patient as Australia dictated play and on 19 minutes, Coyd, coach Tom’s brother, crossed.
The try, combined with the introduction of Brown, one of two 2008 World Cup winners still playing for England, gave them a spark and moments later a sweeping move put Coyd up for his second try.
Brown and Seb Bechara began to exert their influence on the game and with the Wheelaroos also conceding penalties, the momentum was with England.
Although they maintained their dominance with King and Collins getting on the scoresheet, there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of the next game against Spain on Sunday.
“I think we blew a few cobwebs over there. They’re a special team, these guys,” man-of-the-match Brown told BBC Sport.
“Australia showed real class but I think the England boys wanted it more.
“After not playing for England for two years I was a bit worried about getting on with the boys but Tom instilled confidence in me to trust the process and try to live up to the hype.
“We’ve never had anything like this at a World Cup before. It’s a dream come true and it’s something really special.”
A “brutal” sport finds an enthusiastic audience
Nathan Collins is playing his second World Cup for England
Although this is the fourth wheelchair competition, it is the first time it has been part of the main event of the Rugby League World Cup and those who watched the match on BBC Two were impressed with what it showed
“I’ve played Rugby League for years and I’ve had some serious knocks. But this is brutal,” said Adie Smith external link on Twitter.
“It turns out that wheelchair rugby league is one of the most genuinely entertaining sports I’ve ever seen,” said Elanor Banksexternal-link while Nathan Mattickexternal-link described it as “a fantastic advert for the sport for to disabled”.
“How brilliant that this rugby league is leading the way in inclusion, men’s, women’s, physical disability and the Wheelchair World Cup at the same time,” @brayster72external-link added. “Not just a little northern sport”
And former Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow is another convert.
In the opening game of the eight-team tournament, also in Group A, Theo Gonzalez finished with 25 points as Spain defeated Ireland 55-32.
Although Phil Roberts, a World Cup winner with England in 2008, gave the Irish an early lead, the Spaniard quickly took control of the game, scoring 30 unanswered points in the first half.
Ireland captain Peter Johnston Jr led his side with four tries and four goals but the Spaniard ran out comfortable winners.