England avoid wooden spoon with win

Correspondent

England ended their tour with a 36-10 win over Papua New Guinea to ensure they avoided finishing bottom in this season’s Four Nations.

Harlequins centre Tony Clubb scored four tries as England laboured to victory against a tough tackling Papua New Guinea side.

England had looked on course for at least a morale boosting victory when they raced in to a 24-0 lead through Clubb’s first three tries and two from Huddersfield’s Luke Robinson.

But the aggressive tactics of their opponents took its toll in the second, with Sam Burgess, Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson all forced off with injuries.

Papua New Guinea hit back with tries through former Hull KR prop Makali Aizue and Sheffield’s Menzie Yere, but England rounded off the scoring thanks to Clubb’s fourth score and a first England try for Warrington forward Ben Westwood.