In front of a decent-sized crowd at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium, England scored eight tries in the first half – leading 42-0 at the break – and added six more after the interval.

Wales actually had the first chance when David Mills was halted just short after four minutes, but from then on it was virtually one-way traffic as England scored at will.

Five of the Welsh 17 had played for Celtic Crusaders Colts' in their Co-op National Three Grand Final win over Bramley Buffaloes just 12 days earlier and, predictably, England, were too quick out wide and too strong up the middle.

Eight of the England team will be on Monday's flight to Australia, the most impressive of those being man-of-the-match Rob Purdham, who scored the opening try and kicked nine goals, for a 22-point haul.

Hooker Mickey Higham's lively performance was another major plus and Paul Sykes and Mark Calderwood both looked sharp on the left-flank, while two-try half-back Rob Myler was the pick of the players to miss the World Cup cut.

Another of those, Castleford Tigers centre Michael Shenton, saw only limited ball on his international debut, but showed some nice touches and produced an excellent try-saving tackle to crash Damien Gibson into touch by the flag.

Purdham got England off the mark after five minutes and Shaun Briscoe, Sykes, Martin Gleeson, Myler, Sykes again, Gleeson again and Calderwood all crossed before the break.

When Tony Clubb – with his first touch – and Gareth Hock went over within four minutes of the resumption, England looked on course for the century, but they eased off a little as Smith made a series of changes and Wales, to their credit, dug in.

Myler added his second try, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook touched down, Briscoe finished off wonderful handling involving Stuart Fielden, Purdham, Hock and Myler for the best try of the night and Peter Fox completed the rout in the final moments.

Wales did get across the line twice, but were denied on each occasion by video referee Ashley Klein, mysteriously when Aled James seemed to have scored from Dave Halley's kick and pedantically after Jordan James was ruled offside from a similar source.

Twice – England's Ben Westwood was a victim late in the second half – Klein ruled 'no-try', but confusingly awarded a scrum head and feed to the attacking team.

England coach Tony Smith felt several of his players had enhanced their chances of lining up against Papua New Guinea in the World Cup opener in 14 days' time.

And he felt the game was a useful exercise, despite the lack of meaningful opposition. "It was a game we needed," he said. "There were some players telling me they needed to blow the cobwebs out of their system and they did that.

"We came through unscathed, which is an extra bonus.