Tomkins torments Wales

Sam Tomkins was the star of the show as England opened their Four Nations campaign with a comfortable 42-4 victory over Wales.

Wigan Warrior Tomkins scored four of his side's eight tries, getting over twice in each half against the tournament outsiders at Leigh Sports Village.

Kirk Yeaman also touched down in the first 40 minutes, while NRL-based trio Jack Reed, Chris Heighington and Gareth Widdop crossed after the break.

Wales' solitary reply came from Elliot Kear, the winger finishing off a flowing move to at least make sure his country wouldn't be blanked.

Brave efforts

A try was no more than Iestyn Harris' side deserved for their brave efforts too, particularly after they had made the worst possible start to proceedings.

On the very first tackle Jordan James knocked on, the forward being left prone on the floor after a clash with Ben Westwood as he attempted to carry out the opening kick-off from close to his own line.

England didn't waste the early opportunity to get on the scoreboard, Rangi Chase's delayed pass allowing Tomkins to open his account.

Having gone in on the left for his first the full-back switched flanks to double his tally, this time Kevin Sinfield setting him up before also adding the extras.

When the promising half-back pairing of Chase and Sinfield then set up Yeaman for a third try after 21 minutes, England looked on course to pile on the points ahead of tougher tests against Australia and New Zealand.

Instead, however, they had to wait until the second half to score again, too many handling errors and penalties allowing Wales to stand firm.

Indeed the visitors had chances themselves, Craig Kopczak having the best of them when he just failed to finish off Lee Briers' pass close to the line. Winger Rhys Williams went close too, eventually being bundled into touch by opposite number Ryan Hall.

Tomkins completed his treble in the 49th minute, cantering over after Gareth Ellis' burst down the middle had split Wales' defence wide open.

Improvement

The score led to an improvement in England's level of performance, Reed touching down for the second time in as many matches before Tomkins made it three tries in the space of nine minutes, the chance coming about after Briers' speculative drop-out had failed to go the required 10 metres.

Still Wales refused to go down without a fight, a flowing move of their own leaving Kear just enough space to squeeze in at the corner.

The closing stages belonged to replacement Widdop, though, pushing his claims for a place in the starting line-up by creating one try and scoring another.

It was his charge through a massive gap in the first line of defence that gifted Heighington a first score in an England shirt, while Widdop then rounded out proceedings by accepting Hall's pass and scampering in at the right.

Sinfield kicked his fifth goal from eight attempts to wrap up the scoring but Steve McNamara's troops know it only gets tougher from here on, starting with the might of the Kangaroos at Wembley next weekend.