England edge towards World Cup exit despite PNG win

Tries: Ashton, Brimson, Young, Smith, Knowles, Lewis

Goals: Savala 5, Smith

Papua New Guinea (0) 12

England edged towards a World Cup exit after their points chase against Papua New Guinea descended into a chaotic and error-strewn 34-12 victory that will almost certainly prove insufficient in the final reckoning.

Since their opening loss to Tonga, England's objective had been simple in their two remaining group games. Win and win well to have any hope of the reaching the last four.

They achieved that objective against France with a crushing 82-0 triumph and looked on course to make significant inroads into the 68-point deficit they needed to make up on Samoa when they led 22-0 after 22 minutes, courtesy of tries from Matty Ashton, AJ Brimson, Dominic Young and Harry Smith.