KANGAROOS LOSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 238, 9 October 1933, Page 14

KANGAROOS LOSE.

FIRST REVERSE OF TOUR.

!entgxanx> -wins the test. SULLIVAN KICKS TWO GOALS. LONDON, October 8. The first League football Test match, England versus Australia, at Manchester, was won on Saturday by England by 4 points to 0. Sullivan kicked two goals in the second spell. This is the only reverse suffered by the visitors on their tour so far. The Kangaroos' team comprised McMillan, Ridley, C. Pearce, Brown, Why, Hey, Thickncsso, Prigg, O'Connor, S. Peace, Madsen, Dempscy and Stchr (replacing Gibbs in original selection). England's representatives were:— J. Sullivan (Wigan. captain), A. Ellaby (St. Helens), G. Riseman (Salford), S. Brogden (Huddersfield), S. Smith (Leeds), W. Daviow (Castleford), B. Evans (Swinton), ! J. Fcetham (Salford), W. Hnrton (Wake-I iold Trinity), M. Hodgson (Swinton). N. Sileoek (Widnes), L. White (Huuslct), J. Miller (Wanington). Mr. Frank Peel was referee. There were 'iri,ooo spectators. Rain commenced to fall ten minutes before play started. The ball was greasy. The Kanga- j roos dominated the first half and only dogged defence prevented them scoring at least two tries.

Thicknesse, Hey, Brown and Ridley handled the ball perfectly.

England kept the ball close in the second spell, Evans, Davies and Riseinan doing solid work. Australia made a desperate assault, birt the defence was secure.

Sullivan had four shots at goal, two succeeding. The Englishmen now were having the best of the game, tackling splendidly and showing concerted action in spoiling their opponents' moves.

The greasy nature of the ball militated against the handling of it. A very keen struggle was witnessed, but it was hardly of international quality. The game was more notable for grimness than brilliance.

The failure of the Kangaroos in the second halt' disappointed their supporters. I'rigg, Stehr and Dempsey were outstanding in the first halt, when the forwards were magnificent. Thicknesse and Hey were not superior to the English centres, but Pearce and Brown were most prominent throughout. McMillan was sound and fielded Sullivan's clearing kicks excellently, but, his kicking was not equal to the English captain's.

The home backs fumbled too much, but they recovered superbly after the gruelling first spell, when they were pinned down to a defensive game. Finally they hammered the Australian line, which Brogden once crossed, but the try was disallowed owing to a knock-on.

Almost at the close of play Prigg made a gallant attempt. Snatching up the ball, which Sullivan had m iefi elded, he was nearly over, but Davies raced across and pulled the Australian down. The record of the Kangaroos to date is:— Points. Match against. For. Against. St. Helens Recreation Kl u l.oigh 11l 7 Hull-Kingston 20 o Hromloy 52 B Oldham 38 f> Yorkshire 13 o I?arrow 21 5 Lancashire 33 7 Wignn 10 4 Castleford 30 ("■ Halifax 16 r> England (first Test) . 0 4 274 59