Phins fly past sluggish Eels
7 hours ago | Andy P
England swept aside Samoa at the KC Stadium to complete a clean sweep of group wins in the Federation Shield.
Chris Aston and Ryan Atkins, returning after a broken hand, grabbed two early tries but Samoa touched down twice to close the gap to 16-8 at the break.
But England quickly snuffed out Samoa's charge as Atkins completed a hat-trick, Ashton added a second and Jamie Rooney and David Hodgson also scored.
England face Tonga in next week's final, who beat France 48-10.
England (16) 38 Tries: Ashton 2, Atkins 3, Rooney, Hodgson Goals: Rooney 3, Purdham 2
Samoa (8) 14 Tries: Solomona, Winterstein, Start Goals: Ropati
England: Ashton, Hodgson, Atkins, Gibson, Williams, Cooke, Rooney, Bailey, Diskin, Scruton, Radford, Ferres, Purdham. Substitutes: Smith, Dowes, Horne, Crabtree.
Samoa: Tries: Solomona, Winternstein, Start. Goals: Ropati. Samoa: Samau, Tauasa, Start, Tia-Kilifi, Solomona, Ropati, Ly, Maiava, Talapeau, Rah-Mau, Winternstein, Viane, Vaefaga. Substitutes: P. Lima, P. Lima, Stowers, Kaleopa, D. Lima.
Att: 5,698
Ref: T Alibert (France).
Source: bbc.co.uk