England maintained their Autumn Series form with a 44-6 win over France
Kallum Watkins scored a hat-trick of tries as England secured a 44-6 victory over France at New Craven Park.
Last Updated: 03/11/12 5:12pm
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.
