England 46 – 6 PNG

Tommy Makinson became the first player to score five tries in a Test match for England as the host nation overwhelmed Papua New Guinea at Wigan’s DW Stadium in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final; they now play the winners of Sunday’s last-eight clash between Samoa and Tonga

Tommy Makinson scored five tries as England defeated Papua New Guinea in the World Cup quarter-finals

Tommy Makinson became the first player to score five tries in a Test match for England as they eased into the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup by overwhelming Papua New Guinea 46-6.

Makinson’s treble, along with six conversions, and further scores from Tom Burgess, Dom Young, Kallum Watkins and George Williams ensured England had one foot in the semi-finals by half-time after establishing a 38-0 lead at the DW Stadium in Wigan.

PNG were much improved after the break, but St Helens wing Makinson added a fourth try just after the hour mark and completed his haul in the 77th minute, breaking the record of four which fellow wide man Young had equalled the week before in the 94-4 demolition of Greece.

The Kumuls did avoid the ignominy of being nilled thanks to a consolation converted try through Jimmy Ngutlik nine minutes from time, but there was no stopping Shaun Wane’s men from setting up a showdown with the winners of Sunday’s last-eight clash between Samoa and Tonga.

More to follow…