Summary

  • FT: England 29-10 Lebanon

  • England - Tries: Watkins, McGillvary, Hall, Currie, Burgess Conversions: Widdop (4) Drop-goal: Widdop

  • Lebanon - Tries: Kassis, Wehbe Goals: Moses

  • England win first match at World Cup

  • Scotland hammered 76-4 earlier on Saturday

  1. Postpublished at 23 mins

    England 6-6 Lebanon

    Lovely stuff from Robbie Farah.

    The half-back clips a little chip and chase into England ground and bears down on Stefan Ratchford, who fumbles.

    Six more tackles for the Cedars. They go left, and right and Mitchell Moses is felled narrowly short of the line after a very, very tricky run.

  2. Postpublished at 21 mins

    England 6-6 Lebanon

    That try seems to have given Lebanon renewed confidence. And why not? A fantastic result against France last time out, and they're level with England after 20 minutes in Sydney.

    Chris Hill attempts to get Wayne Bennett's side moving, before Luke Gale lofts one high into the Australian sky.

    Well taken by Abbas Miski.

  3. 'Game on!'published at 09:28 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 6-6 Lebanon

    Iestyn Harris
    Former Great Britain and Wales international on Radio 5 live sports extra

    That was ill discipline by England in the build-up to that try but a super kick by Robbie Farah. England have had a good start but two moments of madness for England and it's level. Game on!

  4. converted try

    CONVERTED TRY - England 6-6 Lebanonpublished at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    Nick Kassis (18 mins)

    It is! How about that?

    Nick Kassis reacts quickest to a smart grubber beyond the England line that Gareth Widdop cannot hold and gets a firm hand to the ball the ground amid numerous England bodies.

    That's the extras too - Lebanon level things up.

  5. Postpublished at 09:26 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 6-0 Lebanon

    Ian Millward
    Former St Helens coach on BBC Two

    The English players look like they have conceded already. They know.

  6. TRY REVIEWpublished at 17 mins

    England 6-0 Lebanon

    Is that a try? Referee Ben Thaler says so but we're going to the video referee...

    Lebanon think they've got it down from a smart grubber.

  7. Postpublished at 16 mins

    England 6-0 Lebanon

    Tim Mannah drives the Cedars deep into the England half - their first real foray forward.

    Jermaine McGillvary scoops up a grubber and manages to wriggle beyond the try line to get England moving again.

    Ben Currie gets two bites at the cherry as England surge into Lebanon territory, but that move comes to an end with a forward pass when it looked like there was another overlap on the right.

    That's three decent openings on the right now - with only one resulting in points.

  8. Postpublished at 13 mins

    England 6-0 Lebanon

    EnglandImage source, SWPIX

    Some 76% possession from England so far.

    Jermaine McGillvary goes flying forward again to pin Lebanon in after a deep kick. No let up for the minnows. Repeat sets helping to really build pressure.

    Gareth Widdop grubbers one in and it's picked up Mitchell Mamary close to his own line. Lebanon get a penalty for offside, a little bit of pressure off for a moment.

  9. 'It's all about pressure'published at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 6-0 Lebanon

    Iestyn Harris
    Former Great Britain and Wales international on Radio 5 live sports extra

    It was a super ball to Watkins and a super try. You've got to be prepared to build pressure if you want to beat the likes of Australia and New Zealand and that's exactly what England did. Super start.

  10. Postpublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 6-0 Lebanon

    Brian Noble
    Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

    England executed really well there. James Graham laid the platform, Stefan Ratchford clearly identified the side he needed to go and Gareth Widdop needs to find the outside. We have talked about England finding the execution at the highest level - that was perfect.

    Callum WatkinsImage source, SWPIX
  11. converted try

    CONVERTED TRY - England 6-0 Lebanonpublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    Kallum Watkins (9 mins)

    England's pressure pays off.

    Wayne Bennett's side work it right with some quick hands and Kallum Watkins dives over from close range wide out.

    Gareth Widdop adds the extras with a superb conversion.

    It had been coming.

  12. Postpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Ian Millward
    Former St Helens coach on BBC Two

    Lebanon are coming out hard of the line, but it is only one bloke. That's fraught with danger, If England get more depth they can skin them on the outside.

  13. 'England knocking on that door'published at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Iestyn Harris
    Former Great Britain and Wales international on Radio 5 live sports extra

    I think England are going to have to get used to this kick defence by the Lebanese. They are testing their defence, They are getting closer and knocking on that door.

    LebanonImage source, NRL Photos
  14. Postpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Brian Noble
    Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

    England have had all the ball so far - and in the right part of the field, so that will really help them.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    #bbcrl

    Paul Brown: Totally agree with the commentators when they say @EnglandRL, external needs to win comfortably, we need to put a big score in today.

  16. Postpublished at 6 mins

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Chris HillImage source, Swpix

    Chris Hill has gone down and looks to be hurt, albeit briefly, and the Warrington forward is straight back on his feet.

    England work it right to Gareth Widdop and back again the other way through James Graham, but he's wrapped up by Timothy Mannah five metres from the line.

    Overlap on the right for England. Widdop looks for a delicate kick, but that's blocked.

  17. Postpublished at 4 mins

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Luke Gale takes a view and pops a kick into the corner which Ryan Hall jumps highest to meet.

    He can't quite gather - an early sign of the slippery conditions? - and it bobbles back into Lebanese possession.

    Plenty of pressure from Wayne Bennett's side early on.

  18. 'Let's get physical'published at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Iestyn Harris
    Former Great Britain and Wales international on Radio 5 live sports extra

    Last week against Australia, England matched them for 80 minutes. The forwards were physical and dominant and that's what they need to be tonight and for the rest of the tournament for them to progress through this tournament.

  19. Postpublished at 2 mins

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Good early set from England. Clean hands, plenty of ground. Sean O'Loughlin carries his side forward.

    It's booted deep into the Lebanon half, and full-back Daniel Abou-Sleiman looks to respond with as much purpose as England started at the other end.

  20. 'Statement time'published at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2017

    England 0-0 Lebanon

    Ian Millward
    Former St Helens coach on BBC Two

    Australia and New Zealand have made a statement with their scores this weekend - if England fancy their chances, they probably want to do the same.