England Wheelchair Rugby League beat France
England Wheelchair Rugby League edged France 34-32 in a tense tie at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday afternoon thanks to a last minute penalty.
The scores were tied at 32 all with a minute left and Roman Puly came charging in with a hard and illegal challenge. Wayne Boardman kept his composure and converted the decisive points to seal victory for the current world champions.
England started the game well thanks to scores from hat trick hero Jack Brown and Captain Martin Norris to race into a 12-0 lead.
But two quick tries from Frenchman Michael Gaune kept the game close going into the break with England leading 24-22.
From the re-start, the lead on either side was stretched to no more than four points. Gaune and Brown completed their hat tricks for their respective teams but frustration began to rise as both sides gave away penalties.
Cyril Torres converted two for France to even the scores, but it was Boardman's pinpoint penalty that decided the Frenchmen's fate.
England Squad:
Wayne Boardman (Halifax)
Jack Brown (Halifax)
Paul Craig (Mersey Vikings)
Tom Docherty (Wolverhampton Rhinos)
Mike Fairclough (Mersey Vikings)
Jack Heggie (Bury Jigsaw)
Paul McCormick (Bury Jigsaw)
Martin Norris (C) (Bury Jigsaw)
Phil Roberts (Bury Jigsaw)
Andrew Wharton (Halifax)
Gina Smallwood (Bury Jigsaw)