Summary

  • England win 14-4 to take 2-0 lead in three-match series against Tonga

  • Matty Ashton scored two tries in first half for home side in Huddersfield

  • Final game of series takes place in Leeds on 4 November

  1. Postpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    England celebrate their victoryImage source, PA Media

    That's it in terms of our text coverage for today, but the TV team are still going strong - you can watch their post-match forum live by clicking on the play button at the top of the page.

    See you again soon!

  2. 'We're not throwing in the towel in'published at 16:43 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    Tonga coach Kristian Woolf, speaking to BBC One: "It was a good game and a tight game but England deserved it so full credit to them.

    "They got us by being a bit passive on the first try and a bit of magic for the second and that was the difference. We’ll take some learnings from it. Our discipline let us down we gave away too many penalties and when you do that you can’t win Test matches.

    "Our last play wasn’t great but Test match footy is about getting those things right.

    "You don’t get many opportunities to have a crack at their line so when you get good field position you have to make them pay a bit.

    "We’re not throwing the towel in we’ve got one game to go and a young squad so we’re only going to get better."

    On Shaun Wane's post-match comments: "It doesn’t really bother me, the pitch was ordinary last week and it doesn’t bother me if he’s upset by that."

  3. 'Some of the comments were disgraceful'published at 16:38 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    England coach Shaun Wane told BBC One he was unhappy with some of the comments made about his side's win last week and had used that as a motivating factor.

    "I was very proud. It was a great effort. It got a little bit scruffy in the second half," he said.

    "After the things that were said to us this week, some of it has been disgraceful from the opposition. They wanted a firmer ground, they had it today and still didn’t win.

    "That was a big driving factor and something that we said this week. I’m so proud of the players. We’ve won the series and want to go one better next week. We’re English and we’re proud.

    "The lads were angry, saying we didn’t deserve it, but we want to finish the job next week.

    "But 3-0 is the most important thing. The weather was bad and there were errors but we did enough to win.

    "I’m bothered about winning, I’m not too bothered about playing well, that’s further down the road.”

  4. Postpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    Jodie Cunningham
    England captain on BBC One

    England were efficient, the conditions made it difficult and there were errors, but I just think as a whole England managed that much better.

    They managed to turn it on when they needed to and for me were by far the better side today.

  5. 'I'm over the moon'published at 16:31 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    Matty Ashton celebratesImage source, SWPIX.COM

    Man of the match Matty Ashton, speaking to BBC One: “I’m absolutely buzzing. It was a tough grind and I’m blowing a bit but proud of the boys.

    "I’m living the dream. That’s what I’m there to do and I could have had a couple more but made a couple of errors but I’m over the moon.

    "They are probably the biggest players I’ve come up against so I’m proud of myself.

    "It’s been a rollercoaster ride and my family is proud."

  6. What's next?published at 16:29 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    Reaction on the way from both camps.

    So after all that, what about the third Test I hear you cry?!

    The series will be rounded off at Headingley in Leeds next Saturday, with another 14:30 kick-off.

    As always, you can follow every moment live with us on BBC One, iPlayer and we'll be running another live text to make sure you don't miss a thing.

    Diary - consider yourself marked.

  7. Postpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    Jon Wilkin
    Former England international on BBC One

    I thought Tonga were very poor, England defended resolutely and that was the story for me.

  8. Postpublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    FT: England 14-4 Tonga

    Brian Noble
    Former Great Britain coach on BBC One

    Firstly, Tonga will be disappointed they've been knocked over today. Their first half was ordinary, they've been better in the second half and gone toe for toe in many respects with England.

  9. Full time: England 14-4 Tongapublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England celebrate a tryImage source, PA Media

    It's all over.

    England take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a 14-4 win over Tonga.

    They did the damage in the first half with Matty Ashton's two tries and controlled the game in the second, not allowing the Pacific islanders back into the game.

    One more Test to go as England aim for a 3-0 series win but Tonga will be fired up to get a victory on the board for sure.

  10. Postpublished at 79 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    The drums are pounding and the crowd are in fine voice as we approach the dying embers of the game.

    Tonga kick on again but Jack Welsby has it all under control as he has done all game.

    The 22-year-old captain then whips up the crowd a little more with a big grin on his face.

    A job well done.

  11. Postpublished at 76 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Will Hopoate takes a catch and Matty Ashton is penalised for contact on him beforehand so Tonga can build.

    Or not, as the Pacific islanders make another handling error and the chance is gone no sooner than it arrived.

    There's a few verbals going on in the resulting scrum and the ref takes the players to one side for a calming word!

    Tonga are feeling frustrated with how things are going as England close out the win.

  12. Postpublished at 73 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Much better from Isaiya Katoa with the ball in hand as he dances through tackles.

    But when the ball goes wide, the pass goes loose as a lack of communication draws another promising move to a premature end.

    Tonga have done a lot of attacking with little reward this half.

    England have looked comfortable in defence for the most part.

  13. Postpublished at 70 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Not sure what that kick was from Isaiya Katoa.

    It always had far, far too much on it and rolls dead to hand England possession and a fresh set.

    Frustration is etched on his face as he realises that probably wasn't the wisest decision in the circumstances.

    Into the final 10 minutes.

    England, for whom Matty Ashton scored two first-half tries, are doing what they need to to keep Tonga out at present and are inching towards a series win.

    England celebrate a tryImage source, SWPIX.COM
  14. Postpublished at 67 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Mikey Lewis almost slides his way to the line from about 10 metres out on the pitch saturated by rain!

    He's stopped slightly short and when it's kicked Tonga catch well to avert the danger.

  15. Postpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Brian Noble
    Former Great Britain coach on BBC One

    That's a killer because it's a penalty in possession. The one thing you can't do in a close Test match.

  16. Postpublished at 64 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Will Hopoate makes a good few metres as Tonga continue to threaten.

    But as Hopoate plays-the-ball he catches Mikey Lewis in the face with an arm and the referee deems that a penalty.

    Lewis saw his chance to earn his side a reprieve there possibly!

  17. Postpublished at 62 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Tonga come again.

    Another try now would make it really interesting.

    We haven't seen much of Tom Johnstone with ball in hand but he pouches that one well and makes a few metres before being cut down.

  18. Postpublished at 60 mins

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Victor Radley carries the ball for EnglandImage source, SWPIX.COM

    Victor Radley drops the ball on the fifth tackle - just took his eye off it as the pass arrived.

    That gives Tonga another chance to work their way up the pitch.

    We're heading into the final quarter of the game now.

    England to hold on comfortably or grandstand finish from Tonga?

  19. Postpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Steve Sutcliffe
    BBC Sport at John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield

    The small pocket of Tonga fans at the other end of the pitch enjoyed that. Their red flags with a white canton and red cross are flying high.

    Could that try be the lift they need to get back into this match and the series?

  20. Postpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England 14-4 Tonga

    Brian Noble
    Former Great Britain coach on BBC One

    We talked about bash, bash, bash from Tonga, but where was the finesse going to come from? Will Hopoate provides it.

    Game on - they've been better in this second half, the Tongans.