Wheelchair Rugby League Ashes: England battle to win first Test

Rob Hawkins scored a hat-trick as England responded with five unanswered tries in the final 23 minutes to beat Australia in the first Ashes wheelchair rugby league test.

The world champions trailed 28-26 on the Gold Coast in Queensland before their late match, with Halifax Panthers’ Hawkins scoring two goals in the final three minutes.

Hawkins, the International Wheelchair Player of the Year, finished with 20 points and had four conversions to add to his tries.

England raced into a 16-0 lead inside the first eight minutes, with Leeds Rhinos pivot Nathan Collins opening the opener from close range before London Roosters Wheels of Steel winner Joe Quaid scored the second and Hawkins produced a burst of pace to add the third.

But Zach Schumacher hit back for Australia, and after captain Louis King restored England’s 16-point lead by curling the ball into the corner from a brilliant pass from Collins, Dan Anstey added a second goal for the hosts.

Schumacher scored again just after half-time to cut England’s lead to 22-18, and although Collins pushed the tourists wide again, they soon fell behind – with Anstie’s second goal followed by a brilliant long-range effort from Corey Cannan.

But England found the response they needed when Collins sent a brilliant pass to send London Roosters winger Mason Billington in from the left flank to score, notching his fourth conversion of the day to take his personal total to 16 points.

Finlay O’Neill then celebrated his Test debut with an England try after a brilliant piece of play from Halifax Panthers teammate Jack Brown.

Seb Bichara then raced down the right flank for England’s eighth try, before Hawkins’ brace took England past 50 points.

The two teams meet again on the Gold Coast for the second and final Test on Sunday (05:00 GMT).