England maintained their Autumn Series form with a 44-6 win over France

Kallum Watkins: Completed his hat-trick of tries in the final minute of the game

Sam Tomkins: Scored two tries for England on his return from a knee injury

Kallum Watkins scored a hat-trick of tries as England secured a 44-6 victory over France in the Autumn Series at New Craven Park.

England outscored their opponents by eight tries to one in a match that is a dress rehearsal for next week's final at Salford on Sunday.

Steve McNamara's side opened the scoring with six minutes played when centre Watkins collected a short ball from Gareth Ellis to force his way over from close range.

Richie Myler's one-on-one steal against Mathias Pala set up England's second try with Tom Briscoe finishing off the easiest of scores. A second conversion from Kevin Sinfield made it 12-0.

Watkins scored his second try on 23 minutes after finishing off a free-flowing move that included good work from Huddersfield's Leroy Cudjoe.

Tomkins scored the home side's fourth try of the half with a close-range effort, but a second miss via the boot of Sinfield meant England lead 20-0 at half time.

England continued the second half where they finished the first with second tries of the game from Tomkins and Briscoe, Sinfield adding the extras to make it 32-0.

Leeds captain Sinfield then got over the tryline himself after a surging run from Jamie Jones-Buchanan gave the home side excellent field position following a France mistake.

France got on the scoreboard with 72 minutes played courtesy of Kane Bentley's try, a score that was richly deserved following an improved second-half display. Thomas Bosc added the extras.

But England had the final say when Watkins intercepted the ball to finish off a simple try, with Sinfield slotting home the conversion from in front of the posts.

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