England run riot at Keepmoat

12:04am Saturday 11th October 2008

England warmed up for the World Cup with a record 74-0 rout of an outclassed Wales at Doncaster.

Even without the Leeds and St Helens players who will make up the bulk of their side in Australia, England had too much pace and power for a youthful and limited Wales team playing under new coach John Dixon for the first time.

There were 10 different tryscorers as Tony Smith's men smashed England's previous best win over Wales, a 60-13 triumph at St Helens in 1978, in a one-sided romp in front of an 11,263 crowd at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Fittingly it was Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, one of two genuine Cockneys and one of three Harlequins players, who scored the try that broke the record.

Of the eight Australia-bound players, hooker Mickey Higham, loose forward Rob Purdham and winger Mark Calderwood did most to press their claims for a place in England's team for their opening World Cup match against Papua New Guinea on October 25.

Man of the match Purdham contributed 20 points with a try and eight goals while captain Martin Gleeson demonstrated his class even playing out of position at stand-off with a brace of tries.

Poor Wales had three tries disallowed by video referee Ashley Klein but they could hardly complain after being outclassed from start to finish.

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