Kangaroos lucky escape against England

The Australian Kangaroos have miraculously left AAMI Park with a chance of playing the 2014 Four Nations Final with a 16-12 victory. 20,585 fans watched as England was denied a last minute match winner by the Video Referee, Bernard Sutton.

Australia were on track to have records broken with the Kangaroos not conceding back to back losses since 1978.

Three players were placed on report in as many minutes as both sides attempted to overpower the other. Liam Farrell the first on report for a ‘chicken wing' tackle on Greg Inglis in the 7th minute. Sean O'Laughlin pinged for a trip on Australia captain, Cameron Smith at the 8th minute, and Greg Bird unluckily penalised for a dangerous tackle on O'Loughlin in the 10th minute.

Michael Jennings was the only real spark in the Australian attack as he posted the only Kangaroos points in the first half. Greg Bird busted the English defence at the 16th minute as he set up Jennings to give Australia an early 4-0 lead, after review from the video referee as it attempted he may have not grounded the ball.

Kallum Watkins finished off a brilliant English movement as Gareth Widdop, Matt Smith and Sam Tomkins linked together to give England a 6-4 lead at the 30th minute.

Man of the Match, Ryan Hall was rewarded for his superb effort as he strolled around the retreating Australian defence as he took an awesome flick pass from Dan Sarginson. England took a 12-4 lead into half time.

Ben Hunt was left unused on the bench for 53 minutes and his impact was felt immediately as he scored just minutes into his stint. Australia close the gap to 12-10 as Cameron Smith's sneaky kick out of acting half presented the hosts with hope.

The ‘goanna' was on display at the 64th minute as Greg Inglis slid into a defence hole with Daly Cherry-Evans providing the pass. Australia jumped back to the lead 16-12.

In a moment which has left English fans fuming, Ryan Hall was denied a last minute try as he was ruled not to have had downward pressure as Greg Inglis forced a kick dead. The video referee took almost five minutes to make the no try decision which left English fans calling "robbery" at the end of the game.

Despite victory, Australia have a lot of work to do before they face Samoa next week at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. Samoa will have faith in their abilities after going head to head with the Kiwis on Saturday. Meanwhile, England will go up against New Zealand in Dunedin. 

AUSTRALIA (16)
Tries: Michael Jennings, Ben Hunt, Greg Inglis
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/3)
Penalty Goals:

ENGLAND (12)
Tries: Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall
Field Goals:
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (2/2)
Penalty Goals:

TEAM NEWS: Australia: Robbie Farah, Aidan Guerra and Ryan Hoffman drop off the extended bench. No other changes to the named side.

TEAM NEWS: England: Michael Shenton and Joe Westerman have been replaced by Dan Sarginson (18) and captain Sean O'Loughlin (19)

Welcome to LeagueUnlimited's live coverage from AAMI Park in Melbourne as we bring you this fourth game in the 2014 Four Nations series. Australia is in a must win situation to keep their hopes of a Finals berth alive. England are back favourites against Australia, despite history not in their favour. Australia are back in action after being beaten by the NZ Kiwis last week after leading 12-6. Meanwhile, England come into this weekend with a tough win against Samoa.

Action kicks off at 4PM local time (3PM QLD, 6pm NZ)

England and Australia have entered the playing field here at AAMI Park, both wearing their commemorative jerseys, highlighting 100 years since the 1914 Test match.

1: We are UNDERWAY at AAMI Park as the Australian Kangaroos kick off to give England first use.

1: Matt Smith rockets a kick away from outside the 40m line to complete the first set, Sione Mata'utia cleans up and Australia has possession 10m out from their line

3: Controlled start from both sides, Cooper Cronk puts up a bomb on last tackle to give England possession deep in their own half.

6: First penalty of the game goes to England, too long in the ruck from Greg Bird. England with a real opportunity 20 metres out from the Australian try line

7: Great defence from Australia on the try line, England unable to crack the line. Followed by a penalty for an armbar tackle on Greg Inglis from Liam Farrell

7: Liam Farrell is on report for a chicken wing on Greg Inglis. Australia kick for touch and advance 10 metres short of half way

8: Sean O'Loughlin (England) is penalised for a trip on Cameron Smith. Originally called a knock on against England, however now Australia attack 15m out

9: UNFORCED ERROR AUSTRALIA
Corey Parker makes an unforced error.
Corey Parker attempting to offload to keep the play alive has lost possession, scrum packs for England 10 metres out

10: Beau Scott has come straight off the field with a possible hamstring injury, although he has walked off the field with the trainer.

10: ON REPORT: Greg Bird is penalised for a dangerous tackle on Sean O'Loughlin. England with possession 30m out from the Kangaroos line.

11: England failing again at the death, Matty Smith's kick on last tackle is easily taken by Daly Cherry-Evans. Australia in possession deep in their half.

13: 13' Penalty to the Australians, Sione Mata'utia with pressure applied on his neck by Sean O'Loughlin. No report for the tackle.

14: UNFORCED ERROR AUSTRALIA
Greg Inglis makes an unforced error.
Greg Inglis hitting and spinning into a tackle and the ball has popped free. Zero tackle for England inside their own 30m zone

15: Gareth Widdop taken out with a chip kick, but Sam Thaiday cleaned up without issue. Australia back in possession in their own half.

16: VIDEO REFEREE for the Kangaroos, we have a TRY for Michael Jennings. Grounding is the question here as he bolted away to score

16: TRY AUSTRALIA
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
Michael Jennings gets GREEN LIGHTS as he bolted away off an original line break from Greg Bird. Jennings very lucky to get grounding as he jumped and dived to score.

17: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Cameron Smith with the first conversion of the game is unsuccessful from beside the uprights.

20: Penalty to Australia, Josh Charnley called offside at the play of the ball. Australia lead 4-0 after 20 minutes

21: Brilliant run from Ryan Hall, England throwing the ball in goal. Lucky escape after a short kick is misguided by Australia

24: Penalty to Australia, Liam Farrell called offside from the kick. The Kangaroos kick for line and attack on the half way line

28: Penalty to England as the play went on after the tackle was completed. England 10m out after a long run from Ryan Hall, brilliant running

28: 28' VIDEO REFEREE for England. Kallum Watkins has a TRY. Looking at everything here, obstruction and contact from DCE

29: TRY ENGLAND
Scored by Kallum Watkins. Kick to come.
Kallum Watkins gets GREEN LIGHTS for England as the spread across field with the ball passing through the hands of Matty Smith, Gareth Widdop and Sam Tomkins. Watkins beating the sliding defence easily to give England their first try

30: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ENGLAND
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Gareth Widdop with the conversion attempt from out wide on the eastern sideline is successful with the kick

30: Daly Cherry-Evans concedes a penalty from the kick restart at the first ruck with a hand on the ball. England attack inside the Australian half.

31: UNFORCED ERROR ENGLAND
James Graham makes an unforced error.
James Graham fumbles a floating pass and the Kangaroos come up with possession deep in their own half

31: Cooper Cronk's long last tackle kick is allowed to roll dead by Ryan Hall and England earn a 20m tap

32: ZERO TACKLE for England, Greg Inglis fumbles and they attack 10m out

34: TRY ENGLAND
Scored by Ryan Hall. Kick to come.
Ryan Hall with a brilliant strolls around easily as the Aussie defence fails. Dan Sarginson flicks the pass out and the English make light work with a good four-pointer

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ENGLAND
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Gareth Widdop nails the conversion attempt to extend England's lead over Australia. Brilliant swinging kick!

36: Penalty to Australia, strip is the call as they advance to half way

37: Line drop out for England as Australia gets a repeat set

38: Michael Jennings bolted into a hole and almost ready to set up Josh Mansour, but it's left for the touch judge. Scrum for England 10m out from their own try line.

39: UNFORCED ERROR ENGLAND
Gareth Widdop makes an unforced error.
Gareth Widdop comes up with a fumble after a surging run from Daryl Clark. England bomb a certain try before the half time siren

40: HALF TIME at AAMI Park sees England in control over Australia, 12-4.

41: Second half is UNDERWAY here at AAMI Park as England kick off and hold an 8 point lead. Australia in real danger of missing the Four Nations final, something which hasn't happened since 1954

42: Ryan Hall brilliant under the high ball, defuses the kick off the boot of Cooper Cronk. Australia still lacking fire in attack

45: UNFORCED ERROR ENGLAND
Daryl Clark makes an unforced error.
Daryl Clark just fumbled the quick fire play as England spread through Sam Tomkins and a brilliant flick pass from Gareth Widdop. Change over for Australia at the 10 metre line

46: Penalty to the Kangaroos, holding down in the ruck. Australia up to half way

47: VIDEO REFEREE for the Kangaroos, Greg Inglis has sailed into a gap. Looking at obstruction.

47: NO TRY is shown for Greg Inglis as Boyd Cordner stopped in the line and denied Matty Smith an opportunity to make a tackle. Penalty awarded to England.

50: Gareth Widdop's kick deflects over the sideline and Australia will pack a scrum down 10m off their own try line.

54: Ben Hunt has come into the game for the first time, he replaces Sam Thaiday. Cam Smith shifts to lock forward.

55: Penalty to Australia, offside the call. Kangaroos march inside the English half

57: TRY AUSTRALIA
Scored by Ben Hunt. Kick to come.
Ben Hunt sails in for Australia's second try off a pin-point grubber out of acting half from Cameron Smith. Sneaky last tackle play gives the Kangaroos hope of stealing victory

58: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith with the conversion from in front slots the points to close the game to 2 points

60: UNFORCED ERROR AUSTRALIA
Dylan Walker makes an unforced error.
Dylan Walker fumbles the ball at the ruck, easy opportunity presented here for England with a scrum inside the Australian half

62: Line drop out for Australia, Charnley almost cost England points as he bombed the high floating kick.

64: TRY AUSTRALIA
Scored by Greg Inglis. Kick to come.
Greg Inglis takes a short pass from Cherry-Evans and Australia take the lead again as England's sliding defence unable to hold the play back

65: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith slots the conversion to extend the lead to give Australia a 4 point buffer

67: A flick pass from Dylan Walker is knocked down by England's Ryan Hall. Scrum for Australia, 10 metre short of half way

68: Dylan Walker basketballs to the touch judge and it's a scrum for England inside their own half.

73: Sam Tomkins is trapped in goal. Line drop out for Australia. Big chance to lock away this game with a full set

74: Change over for England, knock on against Australia. Cooper Cronk's kick unable to bring up points

79: Greg Inglis… heart in your mouth stuff. Ryan Hall just beaten to the ball. Line drop out with 40 seconds left for England.

78: Video Referee has been called up to rule on this possible try for Ryan Hall... incredibly we are looking a frame-by-frame replay of whether Hall grounded the ball as Inglis flicked the ball dead.

79: NO TRY is the call and it's a 20m tap for Australia

80: FULL TIME at AAMI Park, Australia has stolen victory from England, winning 16-12. Ryan Hall a key stand out across the park.