England opened their South Africa tour with a seven-try victory over North West District in Potchefstroom yesterday with captain Ben Clarke and wing Dan Luger each claiming two touchdowns.

England were slow to settle, but once they found their rhythm, the home side struggled to keep them out.

Leicester's Lloyd crossed after 15 minutes, then England's captain Ben Clarke added a second score. Clarke produced a blistering first-half display, and was heavily involved in England's third try, scored just two minutes later by World Cup star Dan Luger.

Johnston rounded off a crisp move for try number four six minutes before the break, but the Leopards belatedly responded with a touchdown from skipper Basil de Coning.

England endured a tough third quarter, but there was no stopping them in the final 20 minutes as they added a further three tries to rack up a half-century of points in the process.

Scotland's tour of New Zealand was back on track yesterday after Iain McGeechan's men notched up eight tries to cruise to a 51-10 victory over provincial side East Coast-Poverty Bay.

The stylish way in which the tourists demolished them was a welcome tonic after the shock of being thrashed 42-16 by a scratch Vikings side in the tour opener. East Coast-Poverty Bay held Scotland to 18-0 at half-time and then scored the first try after the break. But that was as close as the determined Scots were prepared to let them get.

Chris Paterson had an outstanding game at outhalf and provided the vital impetus in two of the side's three tries, all of which were scored by centre David Officer.

Then in the second half he cut out on his own and produced two sizzling tries after making clean breaks.

If nothing else, the game allowed coach Iain McGeechan some alternatives to the side which was so soundly beaten in the first game of the tour for Saturday's game against New Zealand Maori.