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England take charge against Romania

Saturday 24 September 2011, 7:31PM

By Rugby World Cup 2011

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England's Mark Cueto dives across for the first of his tries against Romania
England's Mark Cueto dives across for the first of his tries against Romania Credit: Rugby World Cup 2011

DUNEDIN

Mark Cueto scored a hat-trick in just 12 minutes to help England lead Romania 34-3 at the break at Otago Stadium on Saturday.

The left wing scored his first World Cup try in the 15th minute when Jonny Wilkinson and Chris Ashton combined to send him in at the corner.

Seven minutes later England created an overlap for Cueto to score his second, Wilkinson this time slotting the conversion, and it was then the loose forwards' turn to set him up, James Haskell and Tom Croft combining to set up the third.

Cueto's fellow wing, Ashton, got in on the act in the 32nd minute to bring up the bonus point, then added his second three minutes later, converted by Wilkinson.

In the 38th minute, Marin Danut Dumbrava finally got Romania on the scoreboard with a penalty, but then hit a post with another on the stroke of half-time.

It had taken England just two minutes to get points on the board when Wilkinson slotted a penalty, and England's attacking ambition was clear from the outset, with Manu Tuilagi's strength posing problems for the Romanian midfield.

Romania's number 8 Ovidiu Tonita, no stranger to the English players considering his Heineken Cup exploits for French club side Perpignan, tried to give The Oaks some go-forward, but the England back row held firm.