No sentiment shown by sharp England

Rugby League

DAVE HADFIELD

England 46 Fiji 0

There is no room for sentiment, even in the game's biggest ever jamboree. Fiji, so impressive in beating South Africa on Sunday, found at Wigan last night that they have along way to go to match the big guns - especially when those guns fire as impressively as England did in virtually ensuring they will win their group. It was a potentially awkward task ruthlessly completed.

It was another mark of the success of the Halifax Centenary World Cup that the kick-off was delayed to try and get the thousands of stragglers into Central Park.

Within two minutes, those who were inside had a home-town try to celebrate, Andrew Farrell and Paul Newlove's setting up Kris Radlinski.

By the time Fiji got the ball they were eight points down, Farrell having kicked the first two of his four goals. Once in possession Fiji looked inventive but insecure and they had no answer to a superb crossfield kick from Bobby Goulding, pulled out of the air by Radlinski and slipped to Jason Robinson.

Another beautifully constructed move ended with Newlove's pass sending in John Bentley and England already had the match in their keeping.

England conceded a string of penalties to keep Fiji out when they finally managed to exert some pressure. The way they denied the visitors a chance to use their undoubted ball skills was as much as tribute to the organisation of this England side as the quality of their tries, which continued with a solo effort from Paul Broadbent.

Shortly before half-time, a brilliant kick and an equally brilliant chase at the corner brought Robinson his second and Goulding, kicking in place of Farrell, putting England 30 points to the good.

Two minutes after the break, Farrell's replacement, Simon Haughton, stormed through in breathtaking manner and Goulding, who had given him the pass, added the goal.

The captain for the night, Denis Betts, then gave the lively Tony Smith his chance to go over and Newlove scored his second from an inviting Goulding pass.

ENGLAND: Radlinski (Wigan); Robinson (Wigan), Pinkney (Keighley), Newlove (Bradford), Bentley (Halifax); Smith (Castleford), Goulding (St Helens); Broadbent (Sheffield), Jackson (Newcastle Knights), D Sampson (Castleford), Betts (Auckland Warriors, capt), Cassidy (Wigan), Farrell (Wigan). Substitutes: Haughton (Wigan) for Farrell, 37; McCurrie (Widnes) for Jackson, 51; Cook (Leeds) for Robinson, 62; Farrell for Betts, 68.

FIJI: Sovatabua (Carpenters Motors Panthers); Dakuitoga (Penrith), Nalagilagi (Penrith, capt), Seru (South Queensland), Nadruku (Canberra); Nayacakalou (Penrith), Taga (Fish Nadi Dragons); Kaunivalu (Lautoka), Sagaitu (Lautoka), Nakubuwai (Ynco Wamoon), Degei (Parramatta), Toga (Hyundai Bulldogs), Marayawa (Tumbarumba). Substitutes: Korovata (Yanco Wamoon) for Degei h-t; Wainidroa (Fish Nadi Dragons) for Yasa, 51, Naisoro (Lautoka) for Toga 63; Vatabua (Hyundai Bulldogs) for Taga, 72.

Referee: D. Hale (New Zealand).