Slemen rewarded

Victoria 19

England A 76

England A brushed aside Victoria to record the second successive victory of their six-match tour of Australia at Olympic Park in Melbourne yesterday.

Seven first-half tries and five after the break brought England a resounding victory, with half-back Matthew Dawson helping himself to a hat-trick of touchdowns.

David Pears landed five conversions and Tim Stimpson three to emphasise the tourists' domination, with Victoria having no answer to the second- row duo of Richard Metcalfe and David Sims in the line-outs. The home side scored consolation tries through Jack Goodman (2) and Lachlan Strauss, with Goodman adding two conversions.

England, criticised by coach Mike Slemen for sloppy handling errors in their victory over South Australia, produced a fine display of running rugby, and will face Queensland in Brisbane on Sunday full of confidence.

Victoria: Tries Goodman 2, Strauss; Conversions Goodman 2. England A: Tries Dawson 3, Hackney 2, Hill, Holford, Regan, Sheasby, Yates, penalty tries 2; Conversions Pears 5, Stimpson 3.