RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25307, 6 October 1947, Page 5

RUGBY LEAGUE

N.Z. LOSES FIRST TEST AT LEEDS DOUBT RAISED ABOUT WINNING TRY (N.Z. Press Association—Gopyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 4. With both regular hookers injured, New Zealand had to rely on their captain, P. Smith, as hooker in the first Rugby League test match against Great Britain on the Leeds ground, which was bone hard. The New Zealanders lost by a try the legality of which .was considered to be in doubt. The New* Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) received the teams before the match. New Zealand opened the scoring after 13 minutes of play, when Dockar was penalised for offside play, and the New Zealand full-back, W. S. Clarke, kicked a fine penalty goal from a difficult angle. Britain’s backs had the better of the play from the outset, but failed to penetrate New Zealand’s defence, largely, through faulty passing. After Clarke had put New Zealand in the lead, however, Britain’s backs maintained the pressure for long periods by skilful handling and fast running. The British left-winger, Johnson, with clever side-stepping, twice initiated attacks, but Clarke effectively stemmed them.

Britain's forwards consistently gained possession from scrums, and the persistence of the backs finally had its reward when Gwyther burst through from a scrum near New Zealand’s goal posts. Ward converted.

The British forwards continued to get the ball in vital scrums and in the loose they were often dangerous, and the New Zealanders found them difficult to stop. Britain kept play in New Zealand’s territory for long periods, but New Zealand just before the interval, bn one of the rare occasions when they penetrated to Britain’s half, scored and converted the try ’to lead 7-5. On the resumption, the New Zealanders had* the strong sun behind them, and at first pinned the home team to their own half. Forrest, after a fine passing bout, narrowly missed scoring when he was bundled into touch at the corner flag as he attempted to dive over the line.

Britain then took command, and only the New Zealanders’ fierce tackling prevented scores. Both sets of backs worked well at this stage but lacked the polish which would have gained points. New Zealand added three points to their lead when Forrest intercepted a pass, and .with the field open, scored unopposed. Britain gained when back play ended in Aston, crossing. Some doubt exists about the legality of the try with which Britain won the match. The winger, Johnson, when he fielded a cross-kick a few minutes before time, appeared to be offside, but as there was no whistle he punted over. He regathered the ball and touched down wide out. The game went to Britain. 11-10. Reuters says: “New Zealand were a little unfortunate in losing. When they appeared to be breaking under the strain of being penned in their own half for a considerable period, the New Zealanders recovered in the final few minutes of the first half and made one of the greatest fights ever seen in a Rugby League international game. The New Zealand backs showed a great turn of speed and passed the ball with superb skill and accuracy. ' “The facility of Britain’s fast-moving wingers, Johnson and Ratcliffe, to change defence to attack, however, provided in the last quarter of an hour the opportunities which Jed to Britain’s one-point victory.” The “Sunday Express,” referring to the incident towards the finish when Johnson scored, says that the ending was not satisfactory.