WON BY ENGLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 4 October 1926, Page 7

WON BY ENGLAND

NEW ZEALAND FORWARDS FINE IN

THE LOOSE.

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, 2nd October.

England defeated New Zealand by 28 points to 20 in the first League Test match at Wigan. England scored six tries and five goals, and New Zealand League players four tries and four goals. The match was lost by the visitors only after a fine struggle, and they were by no means disgraced. They do not yet seem to be accustomed to English methods, and though' they lacked the Home team's pace, they got the ball away from the scrums as quickly as they might. The best feature was the visitors' forward play in the loose, where they played rare bustling football. Most of their tries followed good work in the open. The visitors tried several new formations in the second half, particularly when Delgrdsso replaced Desmond at scrum half, which/effected a distinct improvement. The team, however, seldom looked like winning. Mason, Avery, and Mouat were the best of the forwards, Hall was excellent at half, and Brown and Brisbane were the best three-quarters. Gregory played a grand game at full-back. Parkin was a worthy captain and the brains of England. He initiated nearly every scoring movement. Rees was » good half, and Carr and Rix the pick of the three-quarters. The teajns were as follow:—

New Zealand: Gregory, Brown, Davidson, Brisbane, Delgrosso, Desmond, Hall, Henry, Herring, Carroll, Mason, Avery, and Mouat.

England: Sullivan, Ring, Howley, Carr, Rix, Parkin, Fairclough, Burgess, Bennett, Cunliffe, Taylor, Rees, and Gallagher. The weather wag astonishingly hot for an English October, and seemed to suit the visitors. Sullivan opened the scoring with a penalty goal almost from half-way, then Carr scrambled over after eleven minutes, Sullivan converting." England 7, New Zealand 0. Next a fine round of passing between Bees, Evans, Carr, and Rix ended in the last named scoring, Sullivan again converting. England 12, New Zealand 0. Parkin then, got the ball out to Re'eg, and from this movement Taylor scored easily, and Sullivan converted. England 17, New Zealand O. N The New Zealand ers attacked with hard forward rushes, and Avery carried three men over and scored a good try, Mouat goaling. England 17, New Zealand 5. Then Gallagher scored under the post, Sullivan goaled, and England led at half-time, the score being:— England 22 New Zealand 5 The visitors improved' in the second half, their defence being excellent but they found the opposing backs obtaining the

ball more often, and also faster and cleverer. Nevertheless, Brisbane got through for a nice try, which Mouat converted. England 22, New Zealand 10. Beautiful passing between Parkin, Rix, and Taylor resulted in Taylor scoring. England 25, New Zealand 10. Carr added another try, and England led by 28 points to 10. In the last few minutes the New Zealanders made desperate efforts to equalise. Avery and Davidson scored spectacular tries, Mouat goaling from both, making the final score:—

England ...28 New Zealand '.20 The attendance was 14,550, and the receipts £1650.