The England Saxons booked their place in the Churchill Cup final against Canada by destroying the Tonga pack in the Kingsholm rain and winning 41-14.

Stuart Lancaster’s side were awarded a hat-trick of penalty tries, as a Jordan Crane-inspired forward effort took Tonga apart and resulted in the captain himself and Billy Twelvetrees also getting on the scoresheet.

The win also sets up a repeat of last year’s final against the Canadians, which the Saxons England won 38-18, and Saxons Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “I thought our scrummaging was outstanding. We gave a couple of kgs away per man but technically we were better. If you’d have said at the start of the game that we were going to win 41-14 I would have taken that. Our objective was to reach the final and now we want to win it – last year Canada gave us a real hard game and I am sure it will be the same this time.”

Tonga will now play Italy A or Russia in the Plate final and their coach Isitolo Maka said: “It was a very tough match. I am very disappointed with the penalty tries. Without them we would have been in the game.”

The Saxons broke through after just 11 minutes when referee Roman Poite lost patience with the collapsing Tongan scrum and awarded a penalty try which Rory Clegg converted.

And four minutes later they were 14-0 up when Crane picked up and drove over to give Clegg another two points.

Tonga struggled to make any inroads into the Saxons 22 with their only good run coming from centre Suka Hufanga but the move broke down.

The Saxons pack were in the ascendency as they sent the Tongan scrum upwards and backwards and Poite headed to the posts for another penalty try.

Right on halftime Clegg made it 24-0 with a penalty and the Saxons continued to turn the screw early in the second half when the fly half landed another.

However, Tonga refused to throw in the towel and they were rewarded for their endeavor to take the lineout rather than penalty kick when captain Kisi Pulu took the ball at the back and when the ball was recycled Scarlets bound- Sione Timani drove over.

But it was small respite as the Saxons forwards overpowered their opponents in another scrum and Poite awarded a hat-trick of penalty tries in the 63^rd minute and Ofa Fainga'anuku was yellow carded for his sins.

Mike Brown made an impact when he came on and made a midfield break before Crane showed some deft footwork with a grubberkick for Twelvetrees to gather and score.

That was the end of Twelvetrees’s involvement as he was sent to the sin bin and Pepa Kolomotangi scored a consolation try when he picked up and drove over.

England Saxons 41
Tries: pen try (3); Crane, Twelvetrees
Convs: Clegg (5)   
Pens: Clegg (2)

A Goode (M Brown 55); C Sharples, H Trinder (J Turner-Hall 58), B Twelvetrees, T Ojo; R Clegg, P Hodgson (M Young 63); M Mullan (K Brookes 63), D Paice (J Gray 55), M Stevens, M Botha, D Attwood, J Gaskell (G Kitchener 69), T Johnson (J Gibson 72) J Crane (capt).

Yellow cards: Twelvetrees 73

Tonga 14
Tries: Timani, Kolomotangi
Convs: Morath (2).

E Paea; V Helu, S Hufanga, S Fonua, V Iongi; K Morath, D Morath (S Havea 55); T Lea'aetoa (O Fainga'anuku 55), S Telefoni (A Halangahu 58), K Polu (capt), S Timani (T Ula 63) E Kauhenga (P Hehea 47), J Afu, P Koloamatangi, P Mapakaitolo (Lea'aetoa 62). Reps (not used): M  Malupo, S Taumoepeau.

Yellow card: O Fainga'anuku 62-72

Referee: R Poite (French)

Att: 5357

The Mid-Atlantic defeated the West 34-5 in the Tier 2 final of the Men's National Collegiate All-Star Championships, capping off a fairly dominant weekend in Glendale, Colo., for the Sharks.

Penn State flyhalf Joe Baker was outstanding, leading the backline effectively and also kicking well, converting all four MARFU tries and adding two penalties. Baker linked well with his Penn State halfback teammate Chris Saint in what was a solid team effort.

"It's so good to have a kicker like that," Saint told RUGBYMag.com. "Joe's been lights out all year and it's great to know if we get a penalty in their half he can get us points, and when we score a try he can turn it into seven. I've been playing with Joe since my junior year in high school and we've got that connection, which helps too."

That connection helped free up a dangerous backline.

"I think the best team we had in recent memory was in 2006 and I think this team was on a par with them," said MARFU Head Coach Gregg Jones. "We had a lot of speed in the backline and some physical, hardworking forwards.

It wasn't a perfect performance, said Jones.

"We wanted to starve them of possession and we kept kicking the ball around," Jones said.

But the defense held.

"Our defense was been good all week," said Saint. "Our line speed is really good off the ball and everybody has been working hard to make their tackles. It was really a team effort."

Two more players stood out for the Sharks. Kutztown flanker Mike Lawrenson scored a try and was the leader on defense. And on the wing, freshman Trevor Tanufum from Maryland turned a lot of heads.

"We knew nothing about him until he came to the tryout," said Jones. "And I tell you, a lot of people are talking about him now."

Mid-Atlantic 34
Tries: Erickson, Lawrenson, Karas, Voigt
Convs: Baker 4
Pens: Baker 2

West 5
Tries: Sangaline