SAINTS prop Alex Walmsley crossed for his first international try as England saw off Papua New Guinea 36-6 to progress into the last four of the World Cup.

They will now play Tonga in next week’s semi-final in Auckland, but will have to up their game from the error-strewn display if they are to progress.

Walmsley came off the bench and once again produced some trademark strong carries in his stints.

James Roby also came on in the second half and added a bit of zest to England’s dummy half play as they got the job done against a previously undefeated Kumuls side.

Two early tries from Jermaine McGilvary, neither of which were goaled, had given England an 8-0 lead.

Two borderline shots on Kevin Brown left the stand off looking a bit groggy and he went off at the break.

Walmsley fumbled trying to collect a spilled PNG ball to miss a chance at crossing on 30 minutes.

But from the scrum England pressed and Walmsley brushed past three defenders on the line to get the ball over the whitewash for his first international try.

Luke Gale added the goal and England were 14-0 up.

Walmsley produced some big carries and quick play the balls – which combined with work of ex Saint James Graham and the Burgess brothers gave a solid middle platform.

Had the errors been cut out and the attack been more clinical England could have won even more convincingly.

But a succession of 10 unforced first half errors – dropped balls and forward passes – meant that they could not fully press this home and there was an element of disjointedness about the game.

One of those errors, in which Josh Hodgson kicked Luke Gale instead of the ball, gifted the Kumuls a scoring opportunity that only a harsh penalty for a push foiled.

Roby came on for the second half and perked up the attack, but a Ben Currie try form a Gareth Widdop kick was all they had to show for it.

The Kumuls wing Garry Lo crossed in the corner on the hour mark from a well-worked move to make it a respectable 20-6.

But it was all one-way traffic late in the game.

England fashioned their best try of the game when McGillvary pierced the line, racing downfield before turning it inside for Kallum Watkins who did the rest.

Nine minutes from time Watkins dived in at the corner after McGillvary had leapt for a kick and offloaded.

Ryan Hall collected another nice Widdop pass in the closing stages to put a final bit of gloss to the scoreline.