WARRINGTON Wolves' England trio George Williams, Matty Ashton and John Bateman did their country proud in the first Test against Samoa in Wigan.

Nothing more can be asked of a player than to take his club form into the international arena - and The Wire trio did that by the bucketload in England's 34-18 success.

Williams and Ashton scored tries, but they were the rewards of their hard-working and constantly threatening displays at The Brick Community Stadium.

Skipper and man-of-the-match Williams was a constant thorn in the bulging Samoan defence, turning up on both sides of the field to inflict his creative genius and at times cause mayhem in a rearguard that did not get to grips with coping with the Warrington stand-off at any point in the game.

That was both from structured play and off-the-cuff rugby.

In the first half, Williams supplied the final pin-perfect ball for the two tries scored on the left by centre Herbie Farnworth and winger Ashton, and then he bagged the third as England assembled a 16-0 lead.

It was from a rapid-fire tip-on that Williams provided the space for NRL Dolphins star Farnworth to cut inside and wrongfoot two Samoan defenders for the opening try in the seventh minute.

Then he shipped out a measured looping pass for Ashton to similarly cut in from his wing and evade one defender before diving over to evade two more desperate attempts to stop him in the 14th minute.

Matty Ashton divers over for his first-half try during the first of two Tests with SamoaMatty Ashton divers over for his first-half try during the first of two Tests with Samoa (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire) Matty Ashton celebrates his first-half try for England during the first of two Tests with SamoaMatty Ashton celebrates his first-half try for England during the first of two Tests with Samoa (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Matty Ashton is congratulated on his try against SamoaMatty Ashton is congratulated on his try against Samoa (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com) Matty Ashton walks back after his tryMatty Ashton walks back after his try (Image: Paul Currie/SWpix.com)

Not just a creator for others, though, Williams showed eagle-eyed vision to explode onto a Harry Newman pass through a hole in the Samoan line, shirk off full-back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and twist out of Shawn Blore Anae Ulisese's tackle to touch down England's third score.

George Williams heads for the line for his try against SamoaGeorge Williams heads for the line for his try against Samoa (Image: Richard Walker)

George Williams ended up escaping this tackle to score his tryGeorge Williams ended up escaping this tackle to score his try (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com) George Williams twists over for England's third try against Samoa in the first Test at WiganGeorge Williams twists over for England's third try against Samoa in the first Test at Wigan (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire) George Williams plants the ball for England's third try against Samoa in the first Test at WiganGeorge Williams plants the ball for England's third try against Samoa in the first Test at Wigan (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Ashton showed he is not just a quality finisher, as The Wire fans know all too well.

He is an eager worker in carrying the ball to clear his own danger area and regularly had the Samoans confused with his dancing feet, getting his nose through for half breaks on several occasions.

Twice that bought him penalties for the team as the Samoans attempted to slow down his attempts to play-the-ball. One of those occasions proved to be the starting blocks of the move that brought about his try.

Bateman, meanwhile, whose loan spell with Warrington concluded when the domestic season ended, was typically industrious and workmanlike in the right channel, always making a nuisance of himself and setting a solid platform.

Samoa's only response in the first half was a 50-metre interception try as Brisbane Broncos' Deine Mariner picked off a long pass from ex-Wire hooker Daryl Clark.

England's first try of the second period was again influenced by that man Williams.

George Williams on the burst for England against SamoaGeorge Williams on the burst for England against Samoa (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

It was from his break down the left that the position was set for Sydney Roosters loose-forward Victor Radley to cross from a Farnworth offload on the next tackle.

Mariner responded with an excellent second try from a free-flowing Samoa move but then came Ashton's second try.

St Helens full-back Jack Welsby hacked on a loose ball, regathered, but was stopped five metres from the try line.

However, Williams raced into dummy-half and got a quick pass away to Ashton at first receiver whose footwork created enough space for him to dive over.

Matty Ashton's second try for England against SamoaMatty Ashton's second try for England against Samoa (Image: Richard Walker) Matty Ashton celebrates his second try for England against SamoaMatty Ashton celebrates his second try for England against Samoa (Image: Richard Walker)

Epitomising Williams' all-round effort though was his scrambling defence late in the second half.

As Mariner got away down the left flank, Williams tracked back to put the winger in two minds about passing inside to his supporting centre Junior Pauga who the Wire stand-off had covered.

The pass did come in the end, Williams made an exceptional diving tackle and the ball was lost.

It was from that hard-earned possession that England broke away themselves with Sydney Roosters winger Dom Young sending Hull KR's Mikey Lewis, playing out of position as replacement hooker, flying over in the 72nd minute.

Ashton then also had a last-gasp defensive moment, coming from the flank with his jet-heeled speed to almost catch Samoa's final try scorer Gordon Chan Kum Tong from Manly but the ball hit the turf near the sticks inches before the Wire winger could get his body underneath.

Matty Ashton so close with this try-saving tackle late on in England's win against SamoaMatty Ashton so close with this try-saving tackle late on in England's win against Samoa (Image: SWpix.com) Matty Ashton got his body underneath the ball but only milliseconds after the touchdown had been completedMatty Ashton got his body underneath the ball but only milliseconds after the touchdown had been completed (Image: SWpix.com)