England began the defense of their Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup title with a 98-18 win over Wales, the BBC and Sky Sports report. The game was played in Wollongong, Australia, the BBC reports.

Rob Hawkins was the star, the outlets report. He scored 11 tries and kicked four conversions for 52 points, the BBC reports. Nathan Collins added four tries and made nine of 11 conversion kicks. Joe Coyd, Jack Brown and Mason Billington also scored for England.

Wales kept pace for the first 20 minutes, the BBC reports. Tries from Stuart Williams and Sid Ramsey cut the gap to 18-12. Then England scored 28 points in a row to lead 46-12 at half-time, the outlets report. England added 10 more tries after the break, the BBC reports. Ramsey scored his second try late in the game.

Hawkins said the team still has work to do. "We definitely felt like we were not playing to our standards, giving away silly errors and giving away points," he said, the BBC reports. "We're building so we can peak at the right time. Today was a stepping stone really."

England have won the wheelchair title twice, the BBC reports. The win is a big step toward getting out of Pool A, Sky Sports reports. Ireland also won big in the group, beating the United States 110-10, the outlets report. That set a new points record for Ireland, the BBC reports.

England play the United States next, on November 3, the BBC reports. Ireland face Wales the same day.

What we know: England beat Wales 98-18, and Hawkins scored 11 tries.
What we don't: Whether any team in the pool can slow England down.