England trounce Southern Barbarians in South Africa

Southern Barbarians 26 England 54

Christian Wade claimed a hat-trick and Thomas Waldrom scored twice as
eight-try England secured the first win of their South African tour.

After defeat in the first Test to the Springboks, England gave their second string a run-out against the Southern Barbarians composite side at Kimberley's GWK Park and eased to victory.

They did concede four tries as they endured some uncomfortable moments on a hot afternoon, but the result was never in doubt with George Lowe, Graham Kitchener and Danny Care also scoring.

The result, although encouraging, will not matter greatly in the context of the tour with eyes as much on individual performances and team selections as the scoreline.

Winger David Strettle, having been named in the initial side, was withdrawn while full-back Alex Goode was taken off at half-time.

Both are likely to be in the reckoning for the second Test in Johannesburg on Saturday, with at least two changes to be made following injuries to backs Brad Barritt and Mike Brown.

The game bore the hallmarks of a traditional tour match, being played on a rough surface and before a small crowd in the relatively remote diamond mining town.

England made a sluggish start as the Barbarians claimed the first lineout and number eight Jacques Engelbrecht was driven over for the opening try after just two minutes.

Fly-half Elgar Watts hit the post with his first conversion attempt but referee Jonathan Kaplan spotted an England infringement and ordered a retake, which was successful.

England looked to respond quickly with Lowe, a late inclusion in the side in place of the rested Strettle, running from deep but lacking support.

The tourists got on the scoreboard with two Charlie Hodgson penalties and Waldrom was unfortunate to be pulled back for a forward pass after breaking clear from a Danny Care ball.

There were no mistakes as the same pair combined after England won a lineout against the throw and Waldrom powered through to touch down.

The impressive Care was the provider for England's second try with a neat angled grubber kick which Wade hacked on before gathering expertly to score.

A neat interchange then saw Hodgson put Jordan Turner-Hall through to set up Lowe for a third try.

That put England into a commanding position but the Southern Barbarians showed some spirit and hooker Hannes Frankin barged his way over just before the break to make the score 25-14 with a converted try.

England suffered another injury blow early in the second half when Lowe was forced off but they maintained the momentum as Waldrom found his way over out wide for his second try.

The Southern Barbarians did trouble England in patches and winger Norman Nelson capped one such good spell with a superb individual try, cutting in from the left and darting through from 22 metres.

England produced a fluid move of their own and scrum-half Care was again involved as lock Kitchener crossed.

England then appeared to put the result beyond doubt as Anthony Allen intercepted close to his own line and sent Wade racing clear for his second.

The South Africans produced such a move of their own to release substitute Ntabeni Dukisa down the right to score from inside his own half.

England finished strongly and Care earned reward for his efforts by nipping through a gap to score and another opening was created for Wade out wide in the closing seconds.

Hodgson finished with 14 points from four conversions and two penalties.

PA