DARYL Clark went off injured as England wrapped up a series victory over New Zealand.

Warrington Wolves’ star hooker was brought off in some pain clutching his rib just after half-time at Anfield having played just over half an hour off the bench.

However, England were still able to celebrate a 20-14 victory, with Tommy Makinson scoring a hat-trick and Jake Connor adding another try as the hosts were superb in the second half.

Update on Daryl Clark's injury

Warrington Guardian:

Daryl Clark is helped from the field clutching his rib. Picture by Mike Boden

The hosts could perhaps consider themselves fortunate to be level at the break as Makinson and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak swapped tries in a New Zealand-dominated first half, but just as they did in Hull last week, England found a way.

England could – and perhaps should – have scored in the very first minute as Shaun Johnson spilled the ball on his own 10-metre line, but Sam Tomkins could not gather Oliver Gildart’s offload and from the resulting England set, Jake Connor was bundled into touch.

Connor did boot England in front with a sixth-minute penalty following Jesse Bromwich’s late tackle on Tomkins, but it lasted barely two minutes.

The Kiwis used the field position given to them by their first penalty to maximum effect as Watene-Zelezniak sliced through some slack right-edge defence for the game’s first try.

Wayne Bennett’s side were flat early on and were almost punished again, but the tourists had a Jordan Rapana try ruled out by the video referee.

England were finding metres hard to come by, whereas New Zealand were marching them back down the field easily.

The home side finished the half positively, however, and a spell of pressure led to the breakthrough.

They stripped the Kiwis for numbers down the left edge and George Williams floated a lovely, looping pass for Makinson to cross in the corner and level the scores at half-time.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Tommy Makinson scores England's first try. Pictures by Mike Boden

Parity did not last long after the restart, however.

Watene-Zelezniak was again sent scything through the England defence by Kodi Nikorima, and he found the perfect flat pass for Maumalo to touch down.

Shaun Johnson’s penalty then stretched the Kiwis’ lead to two scores, but England responded well.

Some excellent handling from Connor saw him bat the ball on under great pressure, and Makinson finished it off in style.

For the first time, New Zealand were really on the ropes as England scented blood, but George Burgess was somehow stopped from scoring by some superb defence from Watene-Zelezniak.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

George Burgess thinks he has given England another try, but his effort was ruled out by the video referee. Pictures by Mike Boden

However, they could not hang on for long as Connor went from provider to scorer.

England built position after Rapana dropped the ball on halfway before Josh Hodgson went down the short side and combined with Elliot Whitehead to put the Hull FC man over.

His attempted conversion attempt hit the post, meaning the scores were level with 15 minutes remaining.

Makinson’s offload then went to ground just out of Jonny Lomax’s reach with the line begging as England pushed for a winner.

It duly came with just five minutes remaining as Makinson expertly took in Connor’s offload, cut inside and roared through the Kiwis defence, with the video referee confirming he grounded the ball correctly to send Anfield into raptures.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Tommy Makinson completes his hat-trick - and the celebrations commence. Pictures by Mike Boden

England: Jonny Lomax; Tommy Makinson, Jake Connor, Oliver Gildart, Jermaine McGillvary; George Williams, Sam Tomkins; Tom Burgess, Josh Hodgson, James Graham, John Bateman, Elliot Whitehead, Luke Thompson. Subs: Adam Milner, Chris Hill, George Burgess, Daryl Clark.

New Zealand: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak; Ken Maumalo, Esan Marsters, Joseph Manu, Jordan Rapana; Shaun Johnson, Kodi Nikorima; Jesse Bromwich, Brandon Smith, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kevin Proctor, Isaac Liu, Adam Blair. Subs: Kenny Bromwich, Leeson Ah Mau, Martin Tapau, James Fisher-Harris.