England 18, Combined Nations All Stars 4: Match report

John Bateman turned in a man-of-the-match performance and halfback George Williams justified the faith of England coach Shaun Wane as the World Cup hosts overcame Ellery Hanley’s Combined Nations All Stars 18-4 at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Fullback Sam Tomkins was in fine form as he enjoyed his international victory as captain and his Catalans team-mates Mike McMeeken and Michael McIlorum made impressive returns to the England team.

With the addition of Jonny Lomax and Morgan Knowles, who both missed the game through injury, and NRL-based players of the calibre of Elliott Whitehead and Tom Burgess to come into the reckoning, Wane has a useful squad to take into the World Cup.

Huddersfield centre Jake Wardle, one of four players on debut, made a dream start, taking Tomkins’ pass close to the line to force his way over for the game’s first try on 10 minutes.

The All Stars lost Leeds prop Matt Prior with a chest injury four minutes later and they fell further behind when Bateman split their defence and sent former Wigan and Canberra team-mate Williams racing for the line.

Leading 12-0 at halftime, Bateman put England further ahead three minutes into the second term in a show of strength when he reached out of a three-man tackle to score.

The introduction of hooker Kruise Leeming added spice to the All Stars attack in the second half but Wane’s men were on their mettle defensively, scrambling superbly to contain a clean break by Wakefield second rower Kelepi Tanginoa.

Ken Sio picked up a pass near his bootlaces from All Stars skipper Shaun Kenny-Dowall to score in the 65th minute and centre Rhyse Martin had a late try disallowed for a double movement.

England: Sam Tomkins; Tommy Makinson, Kallum Watkins, Jake Wardle, Ryan Hall; Jack Welsby, George Williams; Alex Walmsley, Michael Mcllorum, Mike Cooper; Liam Farrell, Mike McMeeken; John Bateman. Interchange: Paul McShane, Joe Batchelor, Matty Lees, MIkolaj Oledzki.

Combined Nations All Stars: Peter Mata'utia; Ken Sio, Rhyse Martin, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Mahe Fonua; Jacob Miller, Brodie Croft; Ligi Sao, Daryl Clark, Zane Tetevano; Kenny Edwards, Kelepi Tanginoa; Matt Prior. Interchange: Kruise Leeming, Joe Lovodua, Tevita Satae, David Fifita.

Photos: England RL