Captain Tom Halliwell’s brilliant 78th minute try delivered England the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.
A tense affair against holders France was all level at 24-24 when the Leeds Rhinos star dummied through for his second score. Nicolas Clausells had already missed a long-range 75th minute penalty for France in front of a world record attendance of 4,526 at a bouncing Manchester Central. And Halliwell made him pay as England, who lost the 2013 and 2017 finals to France, got over to bring glory.
England trailed 14-12 at the interval but Lewis King finished off a lovely four-pass move to put them 16-14 ahead in the 42nd minute. And after forcing another France handling error, Jack Brown stretched over for his second try of the night. France scored with their first real attack of the second half, captain Gilles Clausells dummying over in the 56th minute, Nicolas Clausells improving.
Clausells and Collins exchanged penalties before another Clausells two-pointer in the 72nd minute levelled levelled matters up again. France had opened the scoring with a second minute Lionel Alazard penalty. He also got their first try shortly afterwards, converted by Nicolas Clausells, but England soon got their way back into the contest.
Good handling saw Lewis King get a chance but he spilled in the left corner. Halliwell got them off the mark, though, smartly slicing through between the posts, Robert Hawkins improving. An excellent pass from Florian Guttardo furnished Mostefa Abassi with France’s second converted try but again England hit back.
Talisman Brown weaved over after hitting Nathan Collins’ ball back on the inside in the 39th minute. Collins improved and his side took control after the break before his dramatic late finish.
