League: Aussies steamroller bumbling England

James Graham of England. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Australia booked a predictable, Four Nations final date with New Zealand by thumping an error-riddled England in Melbourne last night.

The Kangaroos ran in six tries to two against an England side which piled mistake on mistake.

Three of Australia's four-pointers came directly from errors.

While the November 13 final could produce a thrilling end to the tournament, Australia's win set up an anti-climactic end to the preliminaries.

The Kangaroos meet the Kiwis in Auckland on Saturday in a match with little significance.

England, too, have nothing but pride to play for next weekend against Papua New Guinea.

Last night, they threw away a surprise early 8-6 lead after 15 minutes.

Any hope of an upset evaporated in 13 minutes of English ineptness and Australian brilliance as the home side ran in four tries to go to the halftime break 26-8 ahead.

Luke Lewis scored his first test try and gave Australia a fifth-minute lead when three consecutive sets proved too much for England to handle.

But the tourists struck back when Sam Burgess crashed over under the posts after a brilliant James Roby pass.

A Paul Gallen high tackle enabled Ben Westwood to put England ahead with a penalty goal but that, and the arrival of rain, signalled the beginning of the end for the visitors as the error rate crept up.

Darrell Goulding knocked-on inside his own half to present Lewis with the quickly-accepted opportunity to double his tally.

Then opposite winger Tom Briscoe came up with a monumental gaffe off a Darren Lockyer kick to enable Billy Slater to swoop and score.

Yet another error resulted in Brent Tate finding the line to take the lead to 20-8, although there was plenty of doubt about the put-down, as he was carried over the touchline.

Willie Tonga completed the first-half onslaught when Lewis unselfishly passed up the chance for his third try after picking up a loose pass.

England headed to the sheds facing the prospect of another hammering like the 52-4 belting they received on their last trip to Melbourne, in 2008.

There was some hope among the smattering of English fans in the 18,894-strong crowd when Luke Robinson scythed over from 10m out three minutes after the restart.

But it didn't last long as Lote Tuqiri went over four minutes later to take the wind out of the visitors.

England had every right to feel aggrieved, as the pass from Lewis to Cooper Cronk in the lead-up to the try was blatantly forward.

But Australia put the margin beyond three converted tries when Cameron Smith completed the scoring with a penalty goal just shy of the hour.

Australia 34
England 14

- AAP