ENGLAND WINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 13

ENGLAND WINS.

FINAL LEAGUE TEST. FIVE POINTS' MARGIN. BROWN'S GOAL KICKING ASTRAY. SYDNEY, July 19. England demonstrated its Rugby League supremacy in no uncertain manner by defeating Australia by 12 points to 7 in the third Test match. The victors received the Goodwill Cup presented by Mr. It. O. Courtney, of Christchurcli, both teams lining up round the beflagged dais. There was an attendance of 53,546 spectators. The gate takings were £4209. The conditions favoured the typically open Australian play. The weather was sunny with a gusty wind and the turf was firm. Australia played with the wind in the first spell. The teams were:— Englanu: Belshaw, Edwards, Risman feaptain), Brogden, Hudson, Jenkins, Watkins, Beverley, Arkwright, Hodgson, Woods, Armitt, Silcock. Australia: Beaton, Ridley, Brown (captain), Norman, Crippin, Hey, Gilbert, Prigg, Pearce, Heidke, Stehr, Madsen, Curlan. Brown Misses Many Penalties. It was early evident that Australia would be unable to penetrate. There were few combined movements owing to much spoiling work. Brown failed at goal from several penalties. Hodgson, Arkwright and Curtail were cautioned, although the play was not unduly rough. Brown opened the scoring from the seventh penalty half-way through the first spell. Jenkins varied the attack, cutting through in passing bouts. His short punts puzzled the home backs. Following the ordering off of Stehr and Arkwright, Hudson scored from a cross kick. Hodgson converted. At half-time the score was: England 5 Australia 2 Jenkins sent Brogden over for an easy try-. Hodgson converted, giving England a winning lead. Hodgson then kicked a field goal. Hey scored a try for Australia, Brown converting. England was never endangered. The final score was: England 12 Australia 7 Deserved the "Ashes." With a feast of the ball, England's backs gave a display of safe artistry, thoroughly deserving the "Ashes." England was definitely superior in all phases, completely answering all challenges regarding its first Test inferiority. Injuries then prevented England from fielding its strongest team. Meanwhile it had built up combination and won the second Test on a heavy ground at Brisbane. The Australian selectors made the mistake of abandoning the policy of specialists in skill and pace, adopting in&ead a policy to match the front row strength of the visitors. The inclusion of Madsen, who is 38 years old, and was hooking for the first time, made no difference to England's winning the scrums. Another Australian mistake was the inclusion of Norman, usually a five-eighth, as centre. He was gallant, but futile, because he could not penetrate. Are They Any Good? The Sunday newspapers give England full credit for yesterday's victory over i Australia.

The "Sun" football critic, Mr. Claude Corbett, says that the Englishmen's methods on attack and defence are sound and more suited to Test football than those of Australia. The manager of the English team, Mr. R F. Anderton, seijt a brief message to Mr. J. Wilson, secretary of the English Rugby League: "England twelve, Australia seven. Are we any good?" The English team has played 16 matches iu Australia, of which it has won 13 and lost 3. The visitors went down in the first Test at Sydney by 24 points to 8 and won the scecond at Brisbane by 12 points to 7, the same score as that in Saturday s contest. The other two losses were against New South Wales and Newcastle. The team has scored 365 points and has had 190 registered against it. The final match of the Australian tour was due to be played to-day against a Group 10 team at Lithgtfw.