RUGBY LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25365, 12 December 1947, Page 4

RUGBY LEAGUE

EASY WIN FOR N.Z. TEAM BRAMLEY BEATEN 31-3 (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LtJNDON, December 10. With 11 test men in the side, the New Zealand Rugby League team, with unorthodox yet free play, had undoubted mastery, by 31 points to 3, in their match against Bramley. The ball continually went smoothly and swiftly along the New Zealand back line. R. Clark was particularly nippy at half-back, and provided fine penetration with backs which showed speed and initiative. The New Zealanders kept Bartlett, an Australian, who was Bramley’s centre, well in check. An experimental line-out was introduced for the game. New Zealand scored in the first movement of the gam?. They penetrated the Bramley defence, and Jordan ran from the twenty-five to open the scoring with a try. Bramley, a few minutes later, conceded a penalty kick for an off-side, which Clarke used to gain a goal. Bramley then pressed the New. Zealanders, who stopped a dangerous movement just short of the goal-line. Clearance from this situation enabled the New Zealanders’ three-quarters to take play well up the field, and McGregor scored near the corner. Clarke failed to convert. Another three-quarters movement gave Jordan his second try, which Clarke converted.

Five Bramley players handled in an effort which ended in Gibson scoring a try for the home side. Hardwick, the New Zealand loose forward, then intercepted a Bramley pass,, and with the field wide open ran over for a try which gave the visitors a 16-3 advantage at the interval.

The second half became a procession of New Zealanders over Bramley’s goal line. Jordan added two more tries, to score 12 points in the match, and Barchard, Hancox, and Forrest also gained tries, none of which was converted. The New Zealand team will sail for home on January 30 by the Port Hobart from London. It will conclude the English section of the tour in time to spend Christmas in London, and will then go to France to play a series of seven matches, beginning with a game in Paris on December 28, and concluding on January 25 at Bordeaux.