England Counties XV produced only glimpses of their fluent best against the French Amateurs but still cruised to a 41-10 victory at Blackheath on Saturday.

The Counties got away to a flying start and were leading 24-0 after only 23 minutes as the French defence failed to cope with some direct running and good support work.

Full-back Neil Hallett opened the scoring with a penalty after five minutes and he also crossed for the first of his two tries soon afterwards after good approach play by fly-half Matt Leek and lock Richard Snowball.

He converted that try and also added the goal points when centre Mark Bedworth scored a fine solo try on 20 minutes, stepping through the midfield defence and cantering in from 35 yards.

Good work from the backs then ended in wingman Alastair Bressington scoring and Hallett converting, an injury time penalty by French fly-half Nicolas Picabea leaving the home side 24-3 ahead at the interval.

Both sides suffered their share of injuries and the French were further handicapped by yellow cards being issued to replacements Brice Sarrandao and Yannick Maredet.

As a result the second-half was a scrappy, disjointed affair, with prop Wayne Reed driving over for a Counties try before a handling error allowed wingman Rachid Ourak to gather and gallop 50 yards unapposed for a try converted by Picabea.

The Counties had the last word, however, when host club player Dave Allen crossed at the posts from Bevon Armitage's pass, and Hallett competed a 21 point haul with his second try and both conversions.

"We played with plenty of ambition and scored six tries, which can only pleasing," said Counties manager Jim Robinson.

"It was untidy at times, but we never gave up trying to play good rugby."

England Counties XV: Neil Hallett (Esher & Surrey); Alastair Bressington (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Mark Bedworth (Wharfedale & Yorkshire) (Bevon Armitage, 40), Mark Sweeney (Launceston & Cornwall); Matt Leek (Esher & Surrey)(Tristan Roberts, Cinderford & Kent, 62), Graham Barr (Esher & Middlesex) (Craig Aikman, Halifax & Lancashire); Duncan Cormack (Esher & Surrey) capt, Liam Wordley (Henley & Staffordshire)(Tom Doran, Esher & Surrey, 62), Wayne Reed (Launceston & Devon) (James Tideswell, Stourbridge & N. Midlands), Richard Snowball (Darlington & Yorkshire), James Winterbottom (Henley & Middlesex), Mike Blakeburn (Esher & Surrey), Neil Spence (Bradford & Bingley & Yorkshire)(Matt Owen, Manchester & Cheshire, 62), Tom Hayman (Westcombe Park & Notts, Lincs, Derby)(Dave Allen, Blackhetah & Kent, 51). T: Hallett 2, Bedworth, Bressington, Reed, Allen. C: Hallett 4. P: Hallett.

France: Pascal Bazani (La Seyne & Cote d'Azur); Rachid Ourak (St Saturnin & Provence), Cedric Laborde (Dijon & Bourgogne), Sebastien Decarre (La Seyne & Cote d'Azur), Lionel Gautherie (Aix & Provence); Nicolas Picabea (Oloron & Bearn), Stéphane Borel (Aurillac & Auvergne); Thierry Berhabe (Oloron & Bearn), Stephane Niego (Aix & Provence), Franck Membrado (Aurillac & Auvergne), David Courteix (Aurillac & Auvergne), Benjamin Goze (Argeles & Roussillon), Bastien Sainte Croix (CBL & Orthez), Olivier Dussaut (Nimes & Provence), Bruno Rolland (Argeles & Roussillon). T: Ourak. C: Picabea. P: Picabea.

Referee: A Hartwell (RFU).