RLWC 2021 heartbreak for Herbie Farnworth as Samoa beat England

Herbie, 22, from Blacko, was in the centres as England faced Samoa at the Emirates Stadium in London for a place in next week’s final at Old Trafford.

The young gun twice dragged England back into the game with two tries showing both sides to his game in the second half to level things up.

With England trailing 20-12 he somehow muscled his way past five defenders to crash over, before sprinting more than 50 metres with less than three minutes remaining to tie the game up again at 26-26, just when it looked like all hope was lost.

If England fans thought they were in for an easy ride after beating Samoa 60-6 in the World Cup opener a few weeks ago, it was clear from minute one the star-studded Samoa side were now a very a different beast.

Herbie Farnworth crashed over for a remarkable try (Image: PA)

The Pacific Islanders took the lead as Salford Red Devils’ Tim Lafai outfoxed his club team-mate Kallum Watkins to crash over.

Watkins then fumbled the ball, blowing an easy score, before veteran Elliott Whitehead’s excellent support play saw him profit from a George Williams half-break.

Just before the half-time break, Hull’s Ligi Sao took advantage of lazy marker play by Jack Welsby to race down the blind-side and crash over, giving the Samoans a 10-6 half-time lead.

Stephen Crichton breaks 60 million hearts by slotting a golden point drop goal (Image: PA)

England took the lead early in the second half with John Bateman profiting from a Lafai error, before Samoa scored arguably the best try of the tournament so far, replicating the Harlem Globetrotters with skilful offloads and improvised play to send Stephen Crichton over.

Lafai was then in the points again, as Samoa stunned England to take an eight point lead.

It was then that Farnworth, who left Blacko for Brisbane as a teenager to pursue his rugby league dream, put England back in the game, beating numerous defenders to muscle his way over.

Herbie Farnworth bags a brace for England (Image: PA)

With the game level, England were chasing a winner when Crichton gambled and intercepted a Victor Radley to race 60 metres and score, seemingly winning the game for Samoa.

But England weren't done yet. George Williams’ elusive running saw him break free deep in England’s half before drawing full back Joseph Sua’ali’I and releasing Farnworth to sprint the rest of the field and score, with Tommy Makinson adding a late penalty to tie the game up.

All square after 80 minutes the game went to golden point and two basic errors from Welsby and captain Sam Tomkins invited Samoan pressure, and after their first attempted drop goal was charged down, the second, a 40 yard effort from star of the match Crichton sailed between the posts to send the Samoans to the final and heap more world cup misery on England.

Samoa face Australia in the Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday.