20 Nov 2011

Australia win Four Nations league final

2:24 pm on 20 November 2011

Australia have won the Four Nations rugby league final in Leeds, beating England 30-8.

The score was 8-6 at half time.

In his 59th and final match for the Wallabies, captain Darren Lockyer scored under the posts in the closing minute before a sell-out crowd of 34,174.

Team-mate Jonathan Thurston scored one try and kicked four goals.

The Kangaroos made a flying start with Sam Thaiday crossing for his first international try after just four minutes. Other scorers were Jharal Yow Yeh and Greg Inglis.

England's points came from a penalty try, which was converted, and a penalty.

England were earlier beaten 36-20 by Australia in the opening match of the series.

They qualified with a win over New Zealand, 28-6, in the semi-finals.

Australia also beat England by 44-16 in the 2009 final.

Australia has reached all seven Tri/Four Nations finals since 1999 - winning the tournament five times (1999, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2011). They lost to New Zealand in 2005 and 2010.