RUGBY LEAGUE TEST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 August 1928, Page 3

RUGBY LEAGUE TEST.

FINAL OF RUBBER

ENGLAND’S NARROW WIN

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 25. The Rugby League test match, the filial game of the- rubber, was played, on the English Park Association ground in the presence of a capacity crowd. England won by isdx .points to five. It is officially .stated that the attendance waisi 20,000. The police .stopped the ticket sales five minutes before the game began and 3000 were refused admission. , , . After the reports of rough play from the West Ooast and Dunedin miany of the crowd went to the match an the fear or hope that the game l would be played with extreme ferocity, with manifestations of illegal roughness on both sides. That fear or hope was quite groundless although the game was fought with exceeding grimnesis. Although the margin of points was very narrow, and although the rubber depended on the result, there was not a single “nasty” incident in the whole game. The .referee, Mr A. ITairlock, controlled the game very strictly. Many of the spectator's declared that he did not miss, a single iniringememt. At any rate ho awarded a very lairge nurnbei' of infringements. Probably if he had been a little less strict the game would have been a better spectacle. A® it happened' the match as a spectacle wais disappointing. The defence was too strong, too. resolute and too. effective on both sides to allow either to develop attacking movements. It must bo admitted, however, that the score scarcely represents the margin of difference between the team®. The forwards wer.e about evenly matched! The Englishmen handled the hall better, and opened the game uip with their backs .tetter than the All Blacks, but the New Zealanders were superior in the loose, bustling rusmes._ The ,-pal superiority of the Englishmen waisi behind the scrum. Parkin and Reeks were very much superior to the New Zealand inside backs and the combination of the Englishmen on the few occasions when it was allowed to develop was definitely better than that of the New Zealanders. One! outstanding feature of the match was the a 1 moist continuous fine kicking between the opposing full-backs, Duffy and Sullivan. Both gave a remarkably fine display and finished the game with honours easy. The Englishmen won the toss and set tire New Zealanders in play against a very troublesome sun. Five minutes of play made it clear to players and spectators that no- infringements would be passed over. Several free kicks were awarded. England were first to gain a decided territrial advantage, but the visitors were penalised and play wen to the English twenty-five where Sullivan was tackled with the ball. The New Zealanders wens awarded 1 a penalty when Peckham was collared, and Dufty landed a magnificent goal.

New Zealand) 2 England 0 A brilliant movement was .started by Hardgrave in the English twenty-five. Prentiee carried on and let out to WethferiH. when 'lie was well tackled from behind. The .elusive captain transferred to Brisbane, who narrowly failed in a dash for the line. By ragged rushes England took play beyond half-way. where Sullivan kicked well for the goal, but just failed. The New Zealanders were winning most of the scrums, but Parkin, after the l English bad won a scrum, cleanly let Aiekin and Fairclough away to near the line, where Ecbholf tackled the latter well. On the other wing Parkin .staged a clever piece of passing with Bees, whose pass> to Sullivan, however, was forward". The Englishmen tried the other wing with more luck. Gwynne took the ball' twenty yards from, the line, dodged three New Zealanders and dived as thins© opponents landed on his back. Fa.iirclouigh, following fast, grounded the ball. Sullivan failed with the kick.

England *1 , New Zealand 2 Peck ham opened up the next bright movement from his own twenty-five. He cut in to pass three opponents and passed to Scott when he. met Sullivan, but Scott was smothered. Fa.irelongh failed to hold a. nippy pass from Parkin. The crowd called for Hatty when a penalty was awarded New Zealand. The 'tall Aucklander’s kick just failed. Soon afterwards Sullivan had like ill-fortune, missing a. phot near half-way. Nothing of moment happened till half-tiipe. , Not long after the resumption the Englishmen showed their quality in a brilliant piece of passing—the best, of the whole match, From the scrum Parkin and Bees seissor-passed .and the ball went to Asian, to Bee®, to Parkin and to Askin, who _ showed good speed in a. diash for .the line with a clear field. Sullivan’s kick missed. England ..4t, 6 • New Zealand 2

The black forwards', with a scrambling rush along the touch-line took

play to England's line, Gooda.ll and O’Brien being prominent. O’Brien was the actual player to touch down. Dufty missed the goal. England 6 New Zealand 5 Play became faster on the lespniption. Often New Zealand had the territorial advantage. Indeed, they had it for most of the remainder of the game, but they Jacked the ability to round off their attacks. The Englishmen always seemed more dangerous. There was no further score.