Summary

  • England beat Tonga 22-18 to take 1-0 lead in three-match series

  • England tries: King, Lewis, Johnstone 2; Tonga tries: Toa, Frizell, Koula

  • Remaining games in series to be played at Huddersfield and Leeds during next two weekends

Live Reporting

Tom Rostance

  1. England 6-4 Tonga

    England have good position but Victor the Inflictor loses the ball in a tackle and spills it out. A real chance goes to the floor.

  2. England 6-4 Tonga

    Jack Welsby is clobbered after collecting an up-and-under but then embarks on a mazy dribble before being hit hard again. Those rotations are starting to happen.

  3. England 6-4 Tonga

    Robbie Hunter-Paul
    Former New Zealand international on BBC One

    We're at the 20-minute mark, this is where the coaches start to look at their bigger boys and see if they need some freshness in there.

  4. England 6-4 Tonga

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

    Tonga player tackled by EnglandSWPIX.COM

    If any England fan expected to turn up today and watch a comfortable victory over tier-two opposition, this start will have disabused them of that notion.

    When Tonga get the ball in hand, they are playing some very fine rugby.

  5. England 6-4 Tonga

    This game is coming up to temperature now. Tonga have already shown a few glimpses of gold.

  6. try

    TRY - England 6-4 Tonga

    Starford Toa

    Try given, and it was a beauty as well. The pass out the back from Will Hopoate was something else...

    Isaiya Katoa is left with a tricky conversion and pulls it just wide.

  7. TRY REVIEW

    England 6-0 Tonga

    But Tonga are in in the corner! Great passing again and Starford Toa goes over - the officials want to check this though.

  8. England 6-0 Tonga

    Great hands, super rugby as Tonga flick the ball out wide but England hang on...

  9. England 6-0 Tonga

    Both sides kicking the ball well as Tonga put one in behind England - but it just runs out. That's another penalty though, a chance to put England under pressure.

  10. England 6-0 Tonga

    Great kick chase from England as Jack Welsby charges and pins Will Hopoate in front of his own posts! But a high tackle gives Tonga their first penalty of the day.

  11. England 6-0 Tonga

    Jonathan Davies
    Former Great Britain international on BBC One

    I was just going to say defences were top, but you can't do anything for individual brilliance. What a break.

  12. converted try

    CONVERTED TRY - England 6-0 Tonga

    Toby King (con Harry Smith)

    England celebrate a tryPA Media

    It was all about that brilliant, driving run from Mikey Lewis, he beats two or three men and the ball then flies wide for Toby King to run it in.

    Harry Smith clips the conversion over nicely.

  13. England 0-0 Tonga

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

    Jack Welsby, becoming England's youngest ever captain today, was involved in a little afters with Tui Lolohea after being slow to release following a tackle.

    England will need their 22-year-old skipper to keep his eye on the game - although they have made a strong start here.

  14. England 0-0 Tonga

    Another steepling kick towards England wing Tom Johnstone is gobbled up and ran back. England look smooth and serene so far.

    Mikey Lewis then breaks the line...

  15. England 0-0 Tonga

    Elliott Whitehead tackled by TongaPA Media

    Both sides are opting to kick downfield early, on the fourth tackle. Just sizing each other up in this first 10 minutes of a three-game series.

  16. England 0-0 Tonga

    Jonathan Davies
    Former Great Britain international on BBC One

    This game will be an arm-wrestle. Discipline and no mistakes are what's needed in the first 20 minutes.

  17. England 0-0 Tonga

    Well read! Isaiya Katoa tries the little grubber kick in behind but Harry Smith gets there to cut it out at source. That was half a chance for the visitors.

  18. England 0-0 Tonga

    Big collisions early on, on both sides, as Tonga rip the ball out and win it from Elliott Whitehead. Tonga with good field position to start their set...

  19. England 0-0 Tonga

    Robbie Hunter-Paul
    Former New Zealand international on BBC One

    Tonga will be looking to put the ghosts to rest of what they saw as a disappointing World Cup. They'll be coming here and they'll want to win every single one of these games. You could argue they've got the biggest, most dynamic forward pack in rugby league, but for me this is also the greatest ever spine I've seen for Tonga.

  20. England 0-0 Tonga

    Harry Smith kicks on the fourth tackle, looking to turn Tonga around and gain some territory as England look for early pressure.