Australian Barbarians 9 - 15 England: Penalties secure win for England

ENGLAND scraped their first victory of a troubled tour against the Australian Barbarians in Gosford.

Two penalties from Charlie Hodgson and three from Olly Barkley were eventually enough to seal the win, despite another disappointing performance from Martin Johnson's side.

The Barbarians had edged into a 9-6 lead early in the second half with three penalties from Berrick Barnes before England's scrum dominance proved the difference and Barkley booted the points.

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The Australian second-string had ended up with two hookers in the front row and England took full advantage as Barkley sealed an unconvincing win.

England dominated the first quarter and took a third-minute lead with a Hodgson penalty after Ward-Smith's break down the wing.

The Barbarians applied some pressure and England began to lose their composure. Barnes slotted two penalties to draw the Barbarians level and England were fortunate not to trail at the interval after missing a simple shot at goal.

Both sides began to ring the changes but England's performance continued to deteriorate, with poor tackling and basic errors allowing the Barbarians to remain on top.

Barnes kicked a third penalty to edge the Barbarians ahead before Barkley assumed the kicking duties to respond, after another powerful England scrum.

The scrum proved decisive in the end. The Australian Barbarians finished with two hookers in the front row. England milked that dominance and Barkley kicked them to victory.

Scorers: Barbarians: Pens: Barnes 3. England: C Hodgson 2, Barkley 3.

Australian Barbarians: Hynes, Cummins, Chambers, Faingaa, Turner, Beale, Valentine, Hoiles, McCutcheon, McCalman, Simmons, Chapman, Weeks, Polota-Nau, Cowan. Subs used: Edmonds, Slipper, Chisholm, Hodgson, Burgess, Barnes, O'Connor.

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England: D. Armitage, Strettle, Waldouck, Barkley, Banahan, C. Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Golding, Mears, Doran-Jones, Atwood, Ward-Smith, Worsley, S Armitage, Haskell. Subs used: Webber, Flatman, Robshaw, Dowson, P Hodgson, Geraghty, Tait.

Attendance: 9,053

Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand).

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