Rob Hawkins scored 11 tries and 52 points, yet England’s star wheelchair rugby league player said his team had not met its own standards after a 98-18 opening win over Wales in Wollongong, Australia.
The result gave two-time champions England a strong start to their defence of the Wheelchair World Cup title. But Hawkins’ comments showed the team is looking beyond the scoreline. England gave away errors and points, he said, and wants to improve before the tournament reaches its later stages.
England scored 18 tries to Wales’ three. Hawkins crossed for 11 and added four conversions, bringing his personal total to 52 points. Nathan Collins scored four tries and converted nine of his 11 attempts. Joe Coyd, Jack Brown and Mason Billington also scored for England.
Wales stayed close during the opening 20 minutes. Tries from Stuart Williams and Sid Ramsey cut England’s lead to 18-12, giving Wales a foothold in the match. England then scored 28 points without reply to take a 46-12 lead into half-time. The champions added 10 more tries in the second half. Ramsey scored his second try in the 71st minute for Wales.
Hawkins called the performance “a decent start” but said it was not England’s best possible match. “We definitely felt like we were not playing to our standards, giving away silly errors and giving away points,” he said. He described the game as a “stepping stone” as England works to peak at the right time.
The size of the win gives England momentum, while the team’s own assessment points to areas it wants to sharpen. In a tournament where the goal is to deliver its best rugby at the right moment, the opening match offered both a clear result and a reminder that there is work still to do.
There was another striking score in Group A. Ireland beat the United States 110-10, scoring 20 tries and setting a new international points record. Joseph Calcott scored seven tries and Cian Horgan added six. Ireland’s total passed the 92 points it scored against Scotland in last year’s Celtic Cup.
England next face the United States on 3 November at 07:30 GMT. Ireland play Wales earlier that day, at 05:00 GMT. England’s opening win puts the title holders on the board, but Hawkins’ focus is already on what comes next: reducing errors and building toward stronger performances as the World Cup continues.