SECOND LEAGUE TEST

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 36, 20 August 1928, Page 17

SECOND LEAGUE TEST

I ENGLISHMEN WIN (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) j DTJNEDIN, 18th August. The Rugby League Test match between England and Now Zealand was played in perfect weather in the prek sonco of 10,000 spectators. The game cannot bo expected to commend League to Duiiedin. At the end football as a game was absent, the spectators merely waiting for the commencement of tho next bout of fighting. One Englishman was ordered off, but three or four on each side should have suffered the same penalty. England won by 13-5, but tho gamo is regarded as a joko in Dunediii. To-night everyone was asking everyone else, "Did you see the fight?" It was a game that could have been, remarkablo for speed and cleverness, but tho. bad feeling spoilt the match. The teams wero as follow:— England: Sullivan, Ellaby, Brough, Askin, Frodsham, Evans, Roes, Burgess, Bowen, Bcntham, Sloman, Fildes, Horton. New Zealand: Dufty, Brisbane, Scott, Hardgravo, Prentice, Wetherill, Dclgrosso, J. O'Brien, M. O'Brien, Hutt, Somers, Hall, Goodall. The referee was Mr. S. Devereaux. New Zealand kicked off against a strong sun, and in tho first minuto offside play by J. O'Brien gave the visitors a penalty . kick. Fine footwork by Prentice sent the ball over the English line, tho visitors forcing just in time. Delgrosso got away, but the ball went out at the corner. Four scrums five yards out wore followed by England forcing again. A free-kick to New Zealand allowed Dufty to open the score with a magnificent kick. New Zealand 2, England 0. The English forwards got away well, but Frodsham mulled badly and misled a score. A Now Zealander was warned. England were in-passing cleverly, but New Zealand tackling was deadly. M. O'Brien got off-side and Sullivan missed a comparatively easy kick. "M. O'Brien'and "Goodall made an exciting run, the latter getting over, but was called back to a scrum. Sullivan now had another penalty kick after a great run by Bees, and this time was successful. 2 all. Ellaby, when well away, was tripped. Sullivan failed with tho resulting penalty. England was getting the ball from the scrums and breaking away regularly, but the Blacks tackled too well. Wetherill; dallied and lost ground, and let England through to tho line. Ellaby missed a, pass and lost a chance. England wero .too tricky for New Zealand, Brough playing-a splendid game At this stage, Prentice (New Zealand) and Bowen (England) wero fighting on the ground. The rough play roused the crowd to indignation and repeated cries of "Put him off." Prentice and Bowen wero warned. Delgrosso was taken off on a stretcher, the spectators setting very annoyed and demanding Bowen's dismissal. The Englishmen started the rough play and Now Zealand retaliated. Peckham replaced Delgrosso. New Zealand forwards got away with only Eordsham to pass, but he cleared brilliantly. The next minuto Peckham made a fine opening and a cood passing movomont enabled Scott to score. Duffy's kick hit an upr ht. e i New Zealand 5, England 2. New Zealand kept up the attack and took play to the English lmo. From a scrum five yards out the visitors coined a few yards and a series oiBcruma followed. Askin got away but was grassed in tho Now Zealand twenty-five. Burgess took a free lack which was awarded a minute later, but failed dismally. New Zealand attacked and Prentice made a clever ierky run, but was flffbwn out at the corner. Play was transferred to the other end where Rees secured and iust got over after a. hard run. bulhvan coaled. New Zealand 5, England 7 and half-time sounded. Brough, Rees, Frodsham, and Sullivan were the outstanding Englishmen, and Prentice, M. O'Brien, and Dufty were m great form* Delgrosso was playing well till hurt. SECOND SPEIiIi. On resumption play went to the English twenty-five, where Dufty missed with a'free-kick. England was on the defensive, but Sullivan at fullback was very reliable, getting his side out of trouble time after time. Bright solo work by -Peckham, who hurdled two opponents, brought the crowd to its toes, but the effort tell through. A scrum infringement by England gave Dufty a penalty kick just inside halfway, bufe..nothing came of it. Strenuous play in midfield followed till Dufty sent the ball right over the English line. England returned to the attack, but were held up at halfway where New Zealand were awarded a free-kick. Dufty found the line, having Horton in trouble. At this stage a glaring foul occurred, Wetherill being knocked down, bringing another hostile demonstration from the crowd. The referee singled Horton out and talked to him. Dufty came in and asked for a remission of the penalty for the offence. . Only quick intervention by other players saved the situation. The English forwards got away and Fildes got over, and appeared to score, but the" referee awarded a force down. Stretcher bearers were kept very busy. Horton claimed their attention for ten minutes, and J. O'Brien came off a minute later. The Englishmen broke away in a groat rush, and a long in-pass allowed Ellaby to score, the referee overruling the touch judge. Sullivan's kick missed. England 10, New Zealand 5. Burgess now got into an argument and was held back from fighting by his companions. A few minutes later he was again m trouble, and ordered off, the line-um-pire stopping the game and reporting him to therefore©. . Horton by «his time had recovered, and was playing again. New Zealand attacked hard and got into England's twenty-five, but the visitors came back with clever passing rushes, good play by Hardgrave saving the situation. Play continued in New Zealand's twentyfivo for some time until Sullivan made a clover' opening, aud Bowen scored. Sullivan missed the kick. England 13, New Zealand 5. The Englishmen had all the better of the game in the second spell, speed and clever passing telling. Another fight occurred on tho far line from the Press box, tho combatants having to be reported. New Zealand took play to the English line, and thing's looked bad for the visitors until relief came with a free-kick. Five minutes later the game ended, the score being: England 13, New Zealand 5.