Makinson’s five tries leads England’s win over PNG to reach World Cup semi-final

Tommy Makinson became the first Englishman to score five tries in a rugby league Test as the hosts convincingly booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals. Some had identified England’s showdown with the Kumuls in Wigan as a potential banana skin on their route to the final.

The hosts, however, made a mockery of that inside half an hour with a faultless attacking display. Despite difficult conditions they scored seven wonderful tries without reply to move into an unassailable 38-0 lead after 30 minutes, with Papua New Guinea barely given the opportunity to get their hands on the ball, let alone threaten the England line.

Makinson was the chief beneficiary of England’s brilliance, becoming the third player in the World Cup to score five tries or more in a match (Australia’s wingers Valentine Holmes and Josh Addo-Carr are the others).

England took their foot off the gas in the second half but their passage into the last four had already been assured for some time. They will face Tonga or Samoa at the Emirates Stadium next Saturday as they try to reach a first World Cup final on home soil since 1995.

It took five minutes for England to break the deadlock when Tom Burgess powered over five opposition forwards to ground the ball; it was a precursor of what would follow for the rest of the half. Makinson extended their lead three minutes later before a Sam Tomkins kick caused mayhem in the defence, leading to Dom Young crossing for his ninth try of the tournament.

Makinson’s second made it 20-0 after 18 minutes before a break from deep was finished by George Williams, who slid under the posts after Tomkins had freed Kallum Watkins. The Salford centre then scored a try of his own after Young broke free down the right