A HARD TEST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 56, 29 November 1907, Page 5

A HARD TEST.

~ HOW THE RANGERS WERE BEATEN. New Zealand , ... 20 Broughton Rangers ... 14 .(Rec. Nov. 23, 6.48 p.m.) Sydnay, November 28. Tho following comments by London papers on tho Now Zoalanders' dofeat of Broughton Hangers (Lancashire), in the fourth niatoh of the tour, aro to hand:— Tho "Daily Chroniclo" Bays that; after the hardest test the 'Now Zealanders haro yot had against Northern Union clubs, they boat Broughton, Rangers by 20 points to 14. A faulty piece of piny by the Ranger's backs loft an opening,, and in a trice W. Wynyard was over the line, and Messenger placed a line goal. . ; RANGERS , ' REPLY. ! That revorso appoared to stir tho home team, and, following,some really .doxterous passing, Hardyman beat , all opposition and scored a try, tho placo kick 'failing. Nor was this all, for, encouraged by tho cheers of tho spectators, Hho Rangers attacked again, and brilliant offorts by Harry and Mottram ended in another try and goal resulting. . ' . • ' It. Wynyard then scored two tries quickly for tho visitors, and Johnston, just before the interval, dashed with superhuman energy over the line, Messongcr adding a goal. HOME TEAM WITH THE WIND. But it was now the Rangers' turn to have" tho help of tho wind, and grandly thoy made use of it: For a long time the New Zealaudors wore on • the defensive, and offside tactics led to Barlow placing two goals for Broughton. Half an hour' elapsed ere the colonials got a chance to onhance their score, a penalty for obstruction .providing the medium. Vet this'-addition did not give them any further opportunity for try-getting r and, after the home team had. increased its total, by a penalty goal, the game finished; Now Zoaland having scored 4 goals and 4 tries to the Rangers' 4 goals and 2 tries. ■Thoi teams were fighting- on quite lovel torms. It may confidently be -anticipated that. the colonials, having achieved :'success against the Rangers, will bo moro'than'a match for any club in tho Northern' Union. THE BETTER TEAM. ; : ■ , : ; The "Daily Toiegraph". says the Rangers are a crack Lancashire team: The colonials showed brilliant work, in, the open, and it was noticeable that all. th'o points ;scored against them were the result of breaches of tho rules, with which they are' still very unfamiliar. It. was ;, thought ..that-, tiic Broughton Rangers would thoroughly test their strength, but-the colonials had the better of the play, and' were, iu fact, a much better team. " .' Ttuncorn occupied the 3rd position in the NuHhern Union Lorriio's "competition-during the season I'JOG-7, with the following record :- Matches played 30, won 23, lost ~ drawn 0j ecorrs for 75 goals, 132 tries, total points MG; scores against, 30 goals''|B.tries, total-points, 216: percentage in competition, <G.GG. The following tnblo shows tlio matches played and the scores to date. It also shows, in , parentheses, for oach of• tho English teams, tho matches won and lost, ancrtuo position Rained in tho Northern Union League. Com-; petition for last season, 1900-7:— Bramley-Won by 25 points to-fi-5-goals 5 tries to 2 tries. (Won 1, lost 19, 20th position in thu -League.) Huddersfiel(l--Woiv by 19 points to 8-2 coals 5 trios to 1 goal 2 tries. (\\on 13,; lost 19, 19th position in the Lvaguc.) Wiclnes—Won by 20 points to 11—4 goals 6 trios to 1 goal 3 tries. (Won 9, lost 10, 12th position in League.) Broughton Kongers—Won by -20 points to 11 t goals 4 tries lo 4 goals 2 tries. (Won 17, lost 12, 9th position in League.) Wakeficld Trinity—Draw, 5 points. (Wou 12, lost 15, lGth position in League) Lm'J.s—Won by 8 points to 2—l coal 2. tries to 1 goal. (Won 19,"" lost 9, Gtlv position in/League.) ■ SI. Helens—Won by 21 points to 5—3 goals and G trios to 1 Rhnl and 1 try. ■ (Won 9, lost 17, 22ml position in League.) Merthyr Tydvil—Won by 27 points to 9—; 3 goals 7 tries to 3 tries. (A now club,' not in League last year.) • Kcighloy—Won by 0 points to 7—3 tries to 2 goals and 1 try. (Won 17, lost C, 4th. position in League.) Wigan—Lost by S points to 12—1 goal and. 2 tries to 1 tries. (Wou 23, lost 10, sth position in League.) ; Barrow—Lost by II points to G—l try to 2' tries. (Won IS, lost 12, 11th position in League.) Jlull— Won by IS points to 13-fl goals and ' 1 tries lo 2 goals and 3 tries. (Won 15, lost 17, 13th position in League.) Leigh—Lost by !) points to IS—a goals and , 1 try lo 3 goals and 3 tries. (Wou 12, lost 15, 15th position in League.) Ohlliam—Draw, S points. (Won 26, lost 7,' 2nd position in League.) ' : Runcorn—Lost: by nil to 9—3 tries. Woni 23, lost 7, 3rd position in League.) Iteconl.—Played 15, won 9, lost i, drawn 2,' points for 209, against 130.