LEAGUE TEAM'S TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19493, 24 November 1926, Page 15

LEAGUE TEAM'S TOUR.

DEFEAT BY WARRINGTON. THE VISITORS OUTCLASSED. GAME PLAYED IN HEAVY RAIN. (From J. .O.'Shaughnessy, with the New Zealand Rugby League Team.) HARROGATE. Oct, 10. On Saturday morning, October 9, we made, the 58-mile train journey to Warrington from Harrogate, in lorkshire. Warrington is a town the size of Christchurch, not far from Liverpool, and is the centre of the wire rope-making industry of England. It is one of the most important towns of Lancashire. From daybreak the weather has been as bad as it could be and at the kick-off it was raining heavily. This continued throughout the game. Added to that was a bitter, blustering wind, which had the effect of making the play of both teams somewhat ragged at times. By the time the game started, well over 9000 spectators had assembled. The gate receipts amounted to £650. The referee was Mr. G. Rees, of Leeds. A Sensational Start. The opening phases of the game were highly sensational, for, right from the commencement, the Warrington pack asserted a superiority that they maintained throughout the game. An "up-and-under" kick, a rush, a pass, a light-ning-like burst and, in a twinkling, Flynr. was over for Warrington. The kick went wide. New Zealand, 0; Warrington, 3. The rain had made the ground very slippery and the ball was very difficult to handle. Warrington attacked hotly, per medium of a forward rush, and Webb hastily found touch well downfield, thus relieving pressure for New' Zealand. Gardiner next secured and in a fine burst of speed took play to the line before passing to Brown, who was well tackled when he looked like getting over. At this stage, just four minutes after the commencement of the game, Davidson (Auckland), who had been playing at first five-eighths, retired with an injured finger. New Zealand was deprived of his great services until ten minutes before the close of the half. This was a greater handicap than can be realised and our men seemed to be disorganised as a result. * New Zealand's Brief Lead. From lively forward work under the Warrington posts Brown made an opening and s&nt Mason over for a try, which Gardiner had no difficulty in converting. New Zealand, 5; Warrington, 3. Warrington, however, soon asserted their superiority and took play to the New Zealand twenty-five. New Zealand was being penalised a good deal for knock-oils and from such a penalty CatteraLl put over a good kick. New Zealand, 5; Warrington, 5. With the Warrington forwards obtaining possession, and then making determined onslaughts, the New Zealand backs were sorely tried in defence and eventually gavu way under the strain. Gregory had a great deal to do, and, as in all bis games so far, he never failed to do well, especially in defence. His picking up and fielding, was a treat to watch. Warrington carried a scrum on the line and again Flynn dashed over for a try, on the blind side'-' this time. The try went unconverted. New Zealand, 5; Warrington, 8. Play then hovered in midfield for a considerable time, and then Tranter secured, and, evading the high tackling of the New Zealand backs, went over for an easy try, which Catterall failed to convert. New Zealand, 5; Warrington, 11. f At this stage Davidson returned, and went to the wing position where he did his best with his one good hand to stem the tide against New Zealand. , Brown now went to centre, Avery returning to the pack. Gardiner was next prominent in a rush that carried play to Warrington's territory and gave their backs h sample of hard defermined play. But their defence held. Play of a scrappy nature followed in midfield, owing to the greasy state of the ball, until Brown brilliantly saved from a long kick that had our men in danger. Half-time came soon after with the scores: New Zealand, 5; Warrington, 11. The Second Spell. In the face of a wind that had increased in violence, and in the teeth of rain that frequently changed to hail. New Zealand set out to overtake, and pass, the big lead put np by the Warringtonians. But the opposing forwards, assisted by the wind in their "up-and-under" methods, dashed aside all opposition. "A series of scrums on our line, in which Wright, Herring and Carroll were conspicuous in the hard play that | resulted, had our men on the defensive. Davidson and Brown relieved with a , magnificent dribbling rush the full length I of the field only to see New Zealand robbed of a glorious try, when David- . son, handicapped by his injured hand, failed to ground the ball when he got over the line. The Warrington fullback forced instead. New Zealand were now having the better of the run of play and on several occasions, owing to bad handling, just failed to finish off the play with a trv. Following on a Warrington man slipping in front of our ■ goal, and losing a try thereby, Warrington kept up the pressure and Parry took a good pass from Tranter and went over in the corner after a forcing run. Catterall again failed to add the points. ' New Zealand, 5; Warrington, 14. This was twenty-three minutes after the opening of the second half. Off-side play and failure to place the ball into the scrum to the satisfaction of ; the referee, on the part of the Warringi ton half-back, gave our men many penalties. but the wind proved too strong for all attempts. In a fast and thrilling dribbling rush Webb, Brown and David- ! son took play to the Warrington twentyfive where Brown was collared and thrown out. New Zealand, with the exception of Brown and Gregory, seemed ' to be tiring, "and their play became very ; ragged indeed. Webb, who is new to ; the position of half, and has not played , there before on the tour, was not im- ! pressive. But it must be said he did . not see much of the ball. From a . movement that started on the touch-line at the twenty-five yards flag, Green i made a zig-zag run and got over in the : opposite comer, for a try that was not > converted. New Zealand, 5; Warrington, • 17. I Forwards Below Form. An exciting run by Gregory, when he was hard pressed, saw Brown placed i in possession, but Tranter tackled the ; Aucklander well, and the movement > broke down. Nothing daunted, our mer I returned to the attack and Brown cut . in nicely, and went on at a great bai s and then passed to Gardiner who was onlv grassed in time. Avery then broke i away and had the Warrington men • oul 1 of position but he slipped and lost the . ball. Soon after, the whistle went with t the scores:—New Zealand, 5; Warring ton, 17. Possession in the scrums, was almosl invariably in favour of the Warringtor pack, and when our backs did get it the passes were generally fumbled e lobbed or dropped altogether. This wa: > partiv due to the treacherons state o: n the wet ball. The forwards, with per e haps the exception of Mason, did no' li play in anything like their usual form Everything was against them. The War ringtbn pack is recognised tbroughou: English. League, as being one of the tw< leading packs. Last year, Warringtoi were runners-up for the Championship ! ' Cup. It will be remembered that thi Warrington team was the first to defea x the Australian League team here in 1913 y .and again in 1923. •e The winners showed undoubted i superiority and a greater knowledge o tho finer points of the game.