MANCHESTER (AFP) - Andy Goode kicked 22 points as England beat Argentina 37-15 here at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Goode converted four penalties, two conversions and two drop goals as England shook off the Pumas who they will meet in a second match in Salta, Argentina next week.

Held at a soccer stadium the match was memorable for two pieces of footballing skill from Mark Cueto who set up two tries for full-back Delon Armitage.

Twice Cueto vollied the ball to set Armitage up for scores to help the youngster make up for his omission from the Lions side to tour South Africa.

There was also a first international try for Bath winger Matt Banahan as England scored three tries to the Pumas nil in recording a convincing win over higher ranked opponents.

Argentina were a place above England in fifth in the IRB rankings at the start of the match and Martin Johnson with nine players on Lions duty was forced to field a makeshift team.

But Argentina's line-up was similarly inexperienced and it was left to one of their older heads, fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez to kick start the game.

England full-back Delon Armitage was relieved to see Hernandez's first minute punt roll into touch but a sloppy line-out from England was gathered by Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe who set up a drop goal for his number ten.

Hernandez's opposite number Andy Goode converted two penalties and knocked over a drop goal to give England a cushion which was increased further on 26 minutes when Matt Banahan scored the game's first try and his first for England.

Cueto's clever inside ball put Armitage in space and when the full-back chipped on Banahan gathered it to touch down.

But Hernandez would not let England get out of sight and two more penalties ahead of the break kept the Pumas in touch despite Goode's second drop goal of the half.

The Stade Francais man converted another penalty as England started the second half raggedly and seemed to rely more and more on Goode's boot in attack until the foot of Cueto helped them to a second try in the 58th minute.

Scrum-half Danny Care broke from a scrum before feeding Cueto - a Manchester United fan playing at their home ground - who pushed it forwards towards the goal-line and Armitage forced his way over.

Goode continued chipping away but the crowd eventually got angry with England's constant going for goal with the match almost safe and started jeering them until captain Steve Borthwick got the message and started to kick penalties for attacking line-outs.

Armitage's final try was made after Goode's punt from his own 22 was chased by Cueto. Realising he would not get there to catch the ball Cueto stuck out his foot and vollied it into the path of the charging Armitage who beat the defence to the ball and sealed the game for England.