LEAGUE TEST.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18901, 17 January 1927, Page 11

LEAGUE TEST.

NEW ZEALANDERS BEATEN. A GOOD EXHIBITION.

Delgrosso goes off injured

USV CABLE-PKB3S ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT I (AL-STfULIAN AND K . 2 . CABLE MSOciS

(■Received January 16th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, January 15. In the League football test England beat New Zealand by 32 points to 17. The match was played at SeadiUgly in wet Weather, there being 8000 spectators,

England attacked vigorously from the "tart, but the New Zealanders conntered and rushed down the field, Cole dropping the ball when on the point of scoring. Bacon, with a brilliant sprint, brought play back in the Blacks' half, but tho visitors carried the ball dowii field again, Brown being pulled down a yard from the line. Dufty opened the scoring with a magnificent penalty goal after fifteen minutes' play. Eheland nest pressed hotly, Rees and Carr gaming tries, one of which Sullivan converted. The New Zealand forwards were playing well in the loose and were most difficult to check. EivWan once got aWay brilliantly, but England Wer6 fortunate in being able, to find touch, after which Very keen scrumming took place noar the English line. At the end of thirty-five minutes' play Eng' iand relieved the pressure and broke away, Bacon getting a try and Evans another. Sullivan goaled one, and the spell ended With England leading by 16 points to 2. f

On resuming, England again sot up an attack in strong force. Tries were Obtained by Bowman aiJd Bacon, one 6£ Which Sullivan converted. The Blacks rallied brilliantly, and put up a remarkable fight. Within teh minutes Dolgrosso, Herring, and Brown ed tries, all Of whioh Dufty converted. Delgfosso., was then injured, and had to be carried off, and the Blacks did not recover from the mishap, whieh enabled England to resume the superiority. Carl* scored two tries in the .closing stagotf, one of Which was converted.

The gate receipts- were £552. It is understoed that the loss 6u tho tour is iiow £7OO.

Delgroaso unfortunately injured his ankle when his flido \ Was showing a glimpse of real-form, and temporarily Btnetaering England. For the remalnd* er of the game they were outclassed by the superior speed'of the Homo - forwards, and the ability of their pack, in Which-the visitors are still weak. They obtained the ball only S3 times compared with England'* forty. Dufty, Brdwn, Sanders, afid Wilson Hall were the most prominent; ' ' .. Tho teams sang "Auld Lang byno" at the conclusion of the match. Loaguo plftyavft regret that the Now Zealanders' flisnefisloua WeSe bo great. At a farewell dinner held in private, the newspapers net being invited, it was pointed out that the New Zealanders were all sportsmen, and that there was never any ill feeling during the sanies. , . Mr Mair replies to statements made by the malcontents on January 18th.

THE RUGBY CODE

ENGLAND BEATS WALES

(Siosej "Suk" Sebvice.)

(Received January 17th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 15. At ftugby, England beat Wales by 11 points to 9. ' Fifteen thousand Welsh people, including many women, attended the match and paissda tho time till the commencement of play singing lustily in Welsh. It is estimated that 50,000 were present. Many thousands who Were turned, away made determined efforts to storm tho gates, necessitating the presence of. mounted police to restore order. Wales, after a shaky start, improved tremendously, but were unfortunate to lose Jones, who fractured a bone in his shoulder after play had been in progress twenty-five _, -minute's, and hie team had to continue with fourteen men The score at half-time was il-6 in'favdur of England. Both sides played brilliantly, the game being fast throughout.