PICTURES ADDED: Gleeson injured after two-try captain's show

7:22pm Friday 10th October 2008

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England 74 Wales 0.

ENGLAND skipper Martin Gleeson scored two tries and picked up an injury in Friday night's Gillette Fusion International against Wales at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium.

Warrington Wolves centre Gleeson limped off at half time and took no further part in the one-sided warm-up game ahead of England's World Cup campaign in Australia starting on October 25.

Mickey Higham provided most of the spark as England took a commanding 42-0 first-half lead.

Hooker Higham, who has signed for Warrington in 2009, crucified Wales around the ruck and linked up brilliantly with stand off Gleeson in the opening 40 minutes to give Wolves fans a taste of things to come next season.

Higham's incisive running from dummy half handed him a part in the opening five tries, linking up with Gleeson for three that were eventually touched down by Shaun Briscoe, Paul Sykes and Richard Myler.

Gleeson, playing the captain's role for the first time, touched down the fourth and seventh tries himself, squeezing over in the corner for his first and exchanging passes with Myler for his second.

Wolves back rower Ben Westwood quietly played his part in the spree, helping to create man of the match Rob Purdham's opening try in the sixth minute with a typical foraging burst before taking a rest in the 30th minute and returning in the second period.

Warrington Academy teenager Rhys Williams, on the left wing for Wales, was held up by four England defenders inches from the try line in one of a few Dragons attacks before the break.

It continued to be all one-way traffic in the second half, with Higham keeping England on the front foot before being replaced in the 60th minute.

Tony Clubb, Gareth Hock, Myler, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Briscoe and Peter Fox all added second-half tries, with Purdham taking his goal tally to nine.

England: Shaun Briscoe (2t); Peter Fox (1t), Michael Shenton, Paul Sykes (2t), Mark Calderwood (1t); Martin Gleeson (2t), Richard Myler (2t); Stuart Fielden, Mickey Higham, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook (1t), Gareth Hock (1t), Ben Westwood, Rob Purdham (1t, 9g). Subs: David Hodgson, Jamie Langley, Darrell Griffin, Tony Clubb (1t).

Wales: Dave Halley; Damien Gibson, Aled James, Lee Williams, Rhys Williams; Mark Lennon, Ian Watson; Craig Kopzcak, Sean Penkywicz, David Mills, Ben Flower, Geraint Davies, Andy Bracek. Subs: Rhys Griffiths, Matt Barron, Jordan James, Gil Dudson.

Attendance: 11,263.