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 5 mins

    England 0-0 Tonga

    Victor Radley delays a pass to draw the tackle and Tyson Frizell accepts the invitation smashing into contact.

    Radley felt that one.

    It's a penalty to England as it was late - can they make this opportunity count?

  2. Postpublished at 3 mins

    England 0-0 Tonga

    Good early defence from England as Tonga try to make some early metres.

    Tonga have tested their opponents with a couple of high kicks in the wet conditions.

    Now England kick deep into Tonga territory and Tevita Tatola takes a fine catch and dodges a would-be tackler all in one movement.

    Promising start!

  3. Postpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England 0-0 Tonga

    Jodie Cunningham
    England captain on BBC One

    Both teams haven’t had a lot of time together, it was tough, it was physical and it was a close scoreline (last week).

    It was exactly what we wanted out of that first Test to set us up for a good game today.

  4. Postpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England 0-0 Tonga

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

    General view of stadium in HuddersfieldImage source, SWPIX.COM

    It was pretty foggy heading over to Huddersfield but thankfully that disappeared pretty quickly once you dropped down from the hills into the town itself.

    While the stadium is far from full, the organisers still expect a fairly healthy crowd of between 12,000-13,000 for this second Test, with the main stand pretty packed out.

  5. Kick-offpublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    We're ready for the action on a grey day in Huddersfield.

    Away we go!

  6. Postpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Brian Noble
    Former Great Britain coach on BBC One

    Kristian Woolf has lit the flame saying his team starting poorly last week and England got off to a start. I'm expecting huge fireworks at the start of this.

  7. Postpublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Tonga perform the Sipi TauImage source, SWPIX.COM

    Before kick-off the crowd falls silent to respect the traditional Tongan Sipi Tau.

    Spine-tingling stuff.

    Mikey Lewis nods his head as England watch on and accept the challenge laid down.

  8. 'Conditions will be important'published at 14:27 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Tonga coach Kristian Woolf, speaking to BBC One: "The ball will be slippery on the ground and in the air.

    "We’ve had a few focuses as we started a bit tentatively (last week).

    "We’re a new team with young players and I thought it took a while to warm to the conditions but we’ll be better for it and learn from it.

    "A number of players hadn't played for six or seven weeks."

  9. 'We're obsessed with making it 2-0'published at 14:26 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    England head coach Shaun Wane, speaking to BBC One: "They could have won in the end (last week) but I think the score flattered them.

    "We could have been more aggressive and had more of a killer instinct but they’ll be better this week and so will we so it's got the makings of a good game.

    "We want to make it 2-0 and that’s what we’ve been obsessed with this week."

    On Mikey Lewis' man of the match performance in the first Test: "I don’t think he was outstanding (last week) but he showed why we rate him. He can get better, he said himself where he can improve.”

  10. Watch livepublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    BBC One

    You can watch every carry, offload, tackle and try in Huddersfield live on BBC One or by clicking on the play button at the top of this page.

  11. Postpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Here's how Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has set up his team this afternoon:

    Tonga: Hopoate; Tupou, Penisini, Suli, Koula; Lolohea, I Katoa; Fonua-Blake, Havili, Tatola, Frizell, Olakau'atu, Kaufusi.

    Interchanges: Teaupa, Fotuaika, Koloamatangi, E Katoa.

  12. Ashton starts second Testpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    England have been forced into a couple of enforced changes for the second match of the series after picking up two injuries in the opener.

    Warrington Wolves winger Matty Ashton will make his second international appearance, coming in for Tommy Makinson, who has a wrist injury.

    Morgan Knowles has been ruled out of the game with an injured thumb, so Wigan captain Liam Farrell comes onto the interchange bench.

    England will be captained again by St Helens full-back Jack Welsby while skipper George Williams completes a two-game suspension.

    England: Welsby; Ashton, Newman, King, Johnstone; Lewis, Smith; Burgess, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Whitehead, Radley.

    Interchanges: Walker, McMeeken, Hill, Farrell. 18th player: Currie.

  13. Record-breaker Frizell's 'pretty cool stat'published at 14:20 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Tyson Frizell scores a try for TongaImage source, SWPIX.COM

    Tyson Frizell made history last week on his try-scoring debut for Tonga - becoming the first player to play rugby league for three different countries.

    His father Andrew was born in Swansea, leading Tyson to first represent Wales in 2011 and play for them at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, before switching to Australia with whom he won a Rugby League World Cup in 2017. Now the 32-year-old has chosen to play for the country of his mother's birth.

    "It's pretty cool and a stat I can look back on at the end of my career," said Frizell.

    It's a big day for Tyson's brother Shannon, too. He is starting for New Zealand against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final against South Africa in Paris tonight.

    He said the family's ties to Wales remained strong and he urged Welsh fans to get behind his Tonga side, and New Zealand later.

    "Shannon's got ties to Wales and I do too, so we need every Welsh fan backing us," he added.

    Most Wales fans will not need much encouragement to support Tonga against England you feel!

  14. Postpublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Jon Wilkin
    Former England international on BBC One

    The pitch will suit Tonga here, it’s drizzly and it’s wet, which they won’t like, but the pitch is firm. Last week it was boggy and Tonga tired at the end of that match.

    But they’re another week in this country, another week in camp and all of those things suggests Tonga will put in a better performance this week.

  15. Wane expecting another tough examinationpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Shaun WaneImage source, Getty Images

    England coach Shaun Wane says he is ready for "an aggressive, tough game" against Tonga as his side look to clinch the Test series in Huddersfield.

    If England defeat Tonga then they will take a unassailable 2-0 lead with one game to spare but Wane has prepared his side to be ready for the Pacific islanders to raise their game to keep their hopes alive.

    "They will not want to go 2-0 down, we are desperate to go 2-0 up," he said.

    "It has got all the makings of an aggressive, tough game - hopefully that's what they'll get," added Wane.

  16. Man of the match Lewis' show of emotionpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Media caption,

    England 22-18 Tonga: Mikey Lewis 'loved every second' of emotional international debut

    Anyone who watched the game last week would have enjoyed seeing Mikey Lewis' post-match interview (if you didn't, don't worry, you can watch it above).

    The 22-year-old Hull KR half-back was man of the match on his international debut and just how much it meant to him came out in a show of emotion after the win when he spoke to BBC One.

    "Words can't describe how I feel at the moment," he said. "I loved every second of that.

    "The whole week, when I got told I was going to make my debut this week, I've haven't let it go by. I've enjoyed every moment and I've really enjoyed that 80 minutes out there.

    "It's massive for me and my family. If you'd have said at the beginning of the year that I was going to make my England debut, I would have laughed at you."

  17. Tonga impress despite defeat in opening gamepublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Media caption,

    Highlights: England 22-18 Tonga

    England won the first match of the three-Test series last Saturday with a tight 22-18 victory over Tonga.

    The teams were level at the break but Tom Johnstone scored twice in the second half to set England on course for victory.

    Debutant Mikey Lewis capped off an excellent display with a try and Toby King was England's other try scorer.

    But Tonga certainly showed they will be no pushovers as the first Pacific island nation to face England in a standalone tour, leading early on through Starford Toa and Tyson Frizell.

    Tolutau Koula added a late score for a grandstand finish, but England held on.

  18. Welcome alongpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 28 October 2023

    England v Tonga (14:30 BST)

    Good afternoon!

    Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of the game two of a three-match Test series between England and Tonga.

    Last week's opener didn't disappoint, with England surviving a late scare to eventually edge it by four points.

    Let's hope we're treated to another entertaining game today!