England score 14 tries to crush France and keep Rugby League World Cup hopes alive

England scored 14 tries to keep their hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals alive with a crushing 82-0 win over France in Perth.

Needing to rack up the points after last week’s damaging loss to Tonga, Brian McDermott’s side did all they could with a clinical display at HBF Park.

England took command of the game with six tries in the latter stages of the first half, three of them scored by Herbie Farnworth.

Dom Young also finished with a hat-trick while full-back AJ Brimson capped a superb individual performance with the final try in the closing minutes.

Hugo Savala converted 13 of England’s tries in a fine display of goalkicking.

England knew ahead of the game their only realistic hope of progressing was to win by a huge margin, and follow up with a similar emphatic display against Papua New Guinea next time out.

Even then they will require a favour from Tonga against Samoa, who were impressive winners over PNG earlier in the day, to claim a top-two spot in the combined Pool B and C standings.

They were frustrated in that early search for points as France made a spirited start.

Matty Ashton did go close in the corner, but the game remained scoreless until the 23rd minute.

The floodgates opened after George Williams broke through the line to send Young over for the opener, with two more tries following in the next three minutes.

Brimson set up Ashton for the second before a brilliant run by Wigan Warriors halfback Harry Smith opened up the space for Farnworth to claim his first.

The Dolphins centre barged through for another from a Junior Nsemba offload and Williams increased the lead further when he raced clear from a Smith pass.

Farnworth made it 36-0 as he completed his treble before the break, and the procession continued after the restart as Young finished in the corner from a Williams kick.

France began to capitulate and the tries became even easier for England.

Jez Litten and Williams pierced the defence to send Victor Radley over and the impressive Brimson burst through to set up tries for Litten and Mikey Lewis.

Young completed his hat-trick straight from the kick-off and Jack Welsby then crossed after more good work by Gold Coast back Brimson.

Lewis claimed his second after a French knock-on and then chipped forward for Smith to gather and put Brimson in to complete the rout.