ENGLAND WINS AT WHANGAREI

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27408, 22 July 1954, Page 7

ENGLAND WINS AT WHANGAREI

RUGBY LEAGUE

GAME WITH AUCKLAND MAORIS

TEN-POINT MARGIN ON HEAVY GROUND

(New Zealand Press Association) WHANGAREI, July 21. Playing for three-quarters of the game with 12 men, the English Rugby League team beat Auckland Maoris 14-4 at Jubilee Park, Whangarqi, today. A crowd of 3000 saw a good exhibition on a field made slushy by several days’ rain. The Maori pack, led by J. Yates, more than held the English forwards, but the backs could not handle the shifty going and slippery ball as competently as the visitors.

Price, at first five-eighths, for England, and the captain, Ashcroft, at centre, were elusive. Sorenson, at first five-eighths, and Haggle, were the best Maori backs. Haggle made brilliant saves at full-back.

The Maoris scored after nine minutes with a penalty goal by Haggie, but England took the lead a minute later when Castle scored a try after Ashcroft had broken through. Cunliffe converted. At this stage it was clearly a battle between the English backs and the Maori forwards. Haggie kept England back with good line kicks, but after 30 minutes Greenall crashed over for a try.

After four minutes’ play in the secojid half Ashcroft broke through for a good try, and two minutes later Haggie kicked his second goal. The Maoris faded for a time, but attacked again in the final 10 minutes. Five minutes from the finish, however, Ashcroft slid through gaps and ran for 40 yards to score his second try.

SECOND TEST MATCH AT GREYMOUTH

BOTH TEAMS TO TRAIN ON VICTORIA PARK

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, July 21. The English and New Zealand Rugby League teams will arrive in Greymouth next week and will train for the test match to be held at Wingham Park on July 31 on the safne ground. The the second on the visitors’ tour of the Dominion, will be the first of any code ever played in the district. The first of the visitors, a party of 25, will arrive at Grey mouth on Wednesday after flying from Wellington to Westport. The remaining seven Englishmen will arrive the following day. The New Zealand team and the coach and manager will arrive on Tuesday. The English party consists of 24 players, two managers, two other officials, and two press representatives. Both teaifas are to train at Victoria Park.

It was announced this evening that Mr J. Griffin, of the West Coast, has been chosen by the Englishmen to referee the first test match at Auckland. Some 300 to 400 Rugby League supporters are expected to make* the trip from Canterbury for the second test match between England and New Zealand at Wingham Park. All stand and outside seating accommodation, more than 2500 seats, have already been sold.