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England 14
15 Italy
International Friendlies Saturday 19th October 2013 Salford City Stadium Att: 4,382
Scorers

TRY SCORERS:
Sam Tomkins
Sam Tomkins
Carl Ablett
GOAL SCORERS:
Gareth Widdop
Scorers

TRY SCORERS:
Dean Parata
Anthony Laffranchi
GOAL SCORERS:
Ray Nasso
Josh Mantellato
Josh Mantellato
DROP GOAL SCORERS:
Josh Mantellato
Full Report

Match Official: R Silverwood

Italy embarrass sorry England

England\'s World Cup hopes were dealt a devastating blow when they suffered a shock defeat by minnows Italy in their friendly at a sodden Salford City Stadium.

Steve McNamara\'s men failed to build on a 14-12 half-time lead as a drop goal from winger Josh Mantellato two minutes from the end condemned them to a 15-14 loss.

The huge embarrassment was witnessed at first hand by Tim Sheens, the Australia coach who must be rubbing his hands at the prospect of his Kangaroos opening their World Cup bid against a sorry-looking England at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday.

Sheens was among the 4,382 crowd, unlike his players who preferred to watch Manchester United at nearby Old Trafford.

The only bright spot was provided by full-back Sam Tomkins, England\'s record try-scorer who lit up the drab proceedings with a brace before witnessing his side\'s demise from the sidelines.

He was withdrawn as McNamara gave run-outs to 20 members of his World Cup squad in readiness for the tougher tests to come.

Italy\'s Salford-born coach Carlo Napolitano continually rang the changes to take a look at all 24 of his players and, despite insisting in advance that the result was not important, encouraged his side to level the scores with a penalty on 69 minutes before celebrating a famous victory at the final whistle.

The first-half rainstorm, which was accompanied by thunder and lightning, was clearly a sign of what was to come for a lacklustre home side, who were left to rue a series of early defensive lapses that enabled the Italians to build a 12-4 lead.

McNamara would have been particularly concerned at the way his defenders fell off the tackle to allow St Helens prop Anthony Laffranchi a soft early try and the ease with which hooker Dean Parata burrowed his way from dummy half for the Italians\' second.

Mantellato added both conversions but there was little hint of the drama to come when centre Carl Ablett scored England\'s first try on 19 minutes, touching down at the corner, despite juggling with the pass from Liam Farrell, after winger Ryan Hall had collected Kevin Sinfield\'s crossfield kick.

As the storm clouds broke over Salford, England\'s World Cup hopes began to resemble the gathering gloom, but Tomkins was there to provide a bright spark.

He took James Roby\'s superb pass to score his first try and then got on the end of Widdop\'s lofted kick for his second.

Sinfield was wide with his first conversion attempt and hit the woodwork with his second but his replacement Widdop found the target to convert Tomkins\' second try and put England in front for the first time four minutes before half-time.

If the sight of a double rainbow at the start of the second half lifted the spirits of the spectators, it did not permeate to the England players, who struggled to find any cohesion.

They missed a scoring chance when Hall failed to take Gareth Hock\'s pass 10 metres away from the Italian line and McNamara removed his side\'s main threat when withdrawing Tomkins from action 16 minutes from the end.

As the stalemate continued, the Azzurri took the opportunity to draw level on 69 minutes with a penalty from in front of the posts by substitute Ray Nasso.

England had a chance to win it when Widdop broke clear with five minutes to go but he failed to find the supporting Rob Burrow and the missed opportunity proved costly.

When Josh Charnley knocked on inside his own 20-metre area, the Italians seized their chance and Mantellato was accurate with a 30-metre drop goal that will live long in the memory of Napolitano\'s men.