TOKYO, 4 July 2003 — Fly-half Oliver Barkley scored two tries, three conversions and two penalties to lead England A to a 37-10 victory over a Japanese selection yesterday in a rugby tune-up match for the World Cup.
After Barkley opened the scoring with a penalty in the ninth minute, right winger Daisuke Ohata collected the ball kicked by stand-off Keiji Hirose and dove near the right corner to give Japan a 5-3 lead in the 20th minute.
Hirose duly converted and added a penalty three minutes later for a 10-3 lead. But it completed the scoring for the home side as the visitors fought back as it started to rain.
Two minutes into injury time, number eight Peter Anglesea interrupted a Japanese passing play to snatch the ball and touched down for an unconverted try to regain the lead as the whistle ended the first half at 11-10.
Hugh Vyvyan, who skippered the squad for their Canadian tour earlier this month, replaced Alexander Brown after the break and the visitors dominated the second half, almost encamping in the Japanese field.
Barkley scored his first try in the 43rd minute with left winger Philip Christophers adding another in the 58th, both cashed in by Barkley for 25-10.
Japan had a penalty chance in the 61st minute when the English side made a high tackle, but it was too far for Hirose, who hit the ball too wide.
Right winger Daniel Scarbrough made it 30-10 in the 75th minute and Barkley added his second try and third conversion to finish off the struggling Japanese.
England have never lost to Japan in their 10 encounters since 1971, including two wins by their under-23 squad in 1973 and 1976, one win by their student team in 1982, and another in the 1987 World Cup.
