14
4

Half-time
England: 12
Tonga: 0

Tries
England:
  • Matty Ashton (7),
  • Matty Ashton (35)
Tonga:
  • Tolutua Koula (56)

Goals
England:
  • Harry Smith (3/3)

Teams
England:
  • Jack Welsby,
  • Matty Ashton,
  • Harry Newman,
  • Toby King,
  • Tom Johnstone,
  • Mikey Lewis,
  • Harry Smith,
  • Tom Burgess,
  • Daryl Clark,
  • Matty Lees,
  • John Bateman,
  • Elliot Whitehead,
  • Victor Radley.
  • Subs: Danny Walker,
  • Liam Farrell,
  • Chris Hill,
  • Mike McMeeken
Tonga:
  • Will Hopoate,
  • Junior Tupou,
  • Will Penisini,
  • Moses Suli,
  • Tolutua Koula,
  • Tuimoala Lolohea,
  • Isaiya Katoa,
  • Addin Fonua-Blake,
  • Siliva Havili,
  • Tevita Tatola,
  • Tyson Frizell,
  • Haumole Olakau’atu,
  • Felise Kaufasi.
  • Subs: Dion Teaupa,
  • Moeaki Fotuaika,
  • Keaon Koloamatangi,
  • Eliesa Katoa

Match report

Matty Ashton's two tries on his return to the England team helped them to a series-clinching 14-4 win over Tonga at Huddersfield's John Smith's Stadium.

Ashton, recalled to the side in place of the injured Tommy Makinson for the second Test of the three-match series, made the most of his opportunity as he grabbed two tries to help England to a half-time lead.

Harry Smith landed one conversion and a penalty as well to make it 12-0 to the hosts at the break, with Tonga counting the cost of handling errors and giving away set restarts for ruck infringements.

Smith added a second penalty to extend England's lead early in the second half before the tourists hit back with an unconverted try from Tolutau Koula, but Shaun Wane's side held firm to secure the win and the overall series victory with one game remaining.

England picked up where they left off last weekend in St Helens and opened the scoring in the sixth minute after the ball was spread from left to right, Ashton waiting in the corner to collect the ball and rush over the whitewash - Smith's conversion followed by a penalty made it 8-0 to the hosts.

Tonga came close to a try as the ball went through the hands and Moses Suli unleashed Koula down the left but he was ushered into touch, which sparked a melee between the two sets of players.

Manly Sea Eagles winger Koula appeared the main danger for the visitors and for a moment it looked like he had unlocked the English defence with a superb turn of foot before spilling the ball in touch.

Tonga came close to a try as the ball went through the hands and Moses Suli unleashed Koula down the left but he was ushered into touch, which sparked a melee between the two sets of players.

Manly Sea Eagles winger Koula appeared the main danger for the visitors and for a moment it looked like he had unlocked the English defence with a superb turn of foot before spilling the ball in touch.

A few seconds later, Tonga were awarded a penalty and finally had their first score of the game as the ball went through the hands and Koula was waiting on the byline to storm over in the corner and reduce the deficit to 10 points, but that was all they could muster as they suffered a second straight defeat.