LEAGUE TEAM DEFEATS LEEDS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3491, 29 October 1926, Page 7

LEAGUE TEAM DEFEATS LEEDS

MARGIN' OF TWO POINTS. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust- and N.Z, Cable Association.] (Received Thursday, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27. The New Zealand League football team defeated Leeds by 13 points to 11. The visitors comprised Gregory. Brown, Lufty. Davidson, Sanders, Cole, Hall. Thomas, Parkcs, Herring, Mason, Gardiner and Avery. The New Zealanders, after a spell of defensive play, took an early lead by means of pretty back play, Davidson scoring a try from loose play, but Dufty failed with the kick. Following on this success, Brown and Dufty combined well, and tested Leeds’ defence. Bailey equalised by scoring an unconverted try, after a pretty passing bout. Both sets of forwards indulged in hard work for the next quarter jlrf an hour, Thomas, Parkes, and Herring, being prominent in scrummages.

Fine passing between Dufty, Gardiner, and Davidson, ended in the last-named crossing the line, for Dufty to goal, giving the New Zealanders a five points lead at half time.

On resuming, Leeds immediately reduced the margin, Watkins scoring a try from a loose rush, but Thompson failed with the kick. Spurred by this success, Leeds pressed hard, but Gregory and Brown defended stoutly. Crisp passing among the home backs resulted in Bacon getting a clever try, which Thompson converted from a difficult angle.

The Colonials answered this challenge with a spectacular passing rush, from which Herring scored a try, and Duffy added the goal. The Blacks combined better than in any previous encounter, and deserved the two points win. Gregory was the safest of full-backs, while Cole and Hall played a grand halfhack game. Parker, Herring, and Thomas, were hard-working forwards.