Jake Connor enjoyed a birthday to remember as England started their World Cup Nines campaign with a 25-4 success over Wales.
As Wayne Bennetts men began their campaign with an emphatic win on day one, making it a memorable birthday for Connor, the Hull FC player ran in two tries.
England led 17-0 in half-time in their Pool B game because of tries from Sam Tomkins and Daryl Clark being five-pointer for its Catalans Dragons back down in the bonus zone behind the posts.
There was no let-up following the fracture and Jermaine McGillvary got the ball rolling with the third try, followed closely by Connor striking twice after the break before Mike Butt grabbed an consolation rating of England.
Englands women won 25-4 in their opening game against Papua New Guinea. Rhiannon Marshall crossed for two tries, together with the others coming from Caitlin Beevers, captain Emily Rudge and Leah Burke.
This was the Cook Islands who left the largest impact of this day, however, delighting the audience at the Bankwest Stadium of Sydney in their win over Tonga Invitational facet
Kayal Iro – son of former Wigan and St Helens player Kevin – led the way with two attempts, while Anthony Gelling, Steven Masters, Aaron Teroi and Reuben Rennie included the others.
Hosts Australia enjoyed a double success against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, starting with all the Jillaroos beating the Kiwi Ferns 22-8 at the womens competition.
Ali Brigginshaw scored a superb solo try after chasing her own kick and set Tiana Penitani up to score along with Corban McGregor getting around to secure the triumph along with Keeley Davis.
In the mens championship, two tries from Melbourne Storm speedster Josh Addo-Carr and also Brisbane Broncos David Fifita place the Kangaroos in Pool A. on course for 25-8 win over the Kiwis
Lebanon kicked off the tournament with a win over France, together with Bilal Maarbanis double and two conversions out of Jayden El-Jalkh demonstrating the gap in the Pool B match-up.
Samoa defeated Fiji 32-17 around the back of Brian Toos dual and 1 apiece while Papua New Guinea rounded off day one using a 27-10 win.
Doncaster half-back Watson Boas and Barrow Raiders winger Stargroth Amean were one of the Kumuls try-scorers.
Papua New Guinea 27-10 USA, 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
New Zealand Women vs Papua New Guinea Women (1.30am), France vs Wales (1.55m ), England vs Lebanon (2.20am), Samoa vs Cook Islands (2.45am), Tonga vs Fiji (3.10am), New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea (3.45am), Australia vs USA (4.10m ), Australia Women vs England Women (4.35am), Lebanon vs Wales (5am), England vs France (5.25am) Fiji vs Cook Islands (6am), Tonga vs Samoa (6.25m ), New Zealand vs USA (6.50m ), 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 closing (9.45am), Mens closing (11am)
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