FINAL LEAGUE TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20035, 27 August 1928, Page 11

FINAL LEAGUE TEST.

VICTORY FOR ENGLAND*

SCORE SIX POINTS TO F!VE<>

GRIM, EXCITING STRUGGLE.

GROUND TOO SMALL FOR CROWD.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESiS ASSOCIATION'.] CHRISTCHUHCH. Saturday.

The League test match was played at> English Park, the Association football ground, this afternoon, in the presence of a capacity crowd. England won by 6 points to 5, and thus secured the rubber,, having won two out of three tests this tour. It was officially stated that the attendance was ,20,000. The police stopped the ticket sales five minutes before the game began and about 3000 people were refused admission. After reports of rough play from the West Coast and Dunedin many people went to tha match in fear or hope that the game might be played with manifestations of illegal roughness on both sides. The fear or hope was quije groundless, for although the game was played with exceeding grimness, 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. Harlock, controlled the game very strictly. Many spectators declared ho did not miss a single infringement. At any rate he awarded a very large number of penalties. Probably if he had been a little less strict the game would have been a better spectacle.

Match Not Spectacular. As it happened the match, from the spectacular point of view, was disappointing. The defence was too strong and too effective on both sides to allow either to develop attacking movements. It must be admitted, however, that the score scarcely represents the margin of difference between the teams. The forwards wevo about evenly matched. Tlje Englishmen handled the ball better and opened tli game up with their backs better than the New Zealanders, but the New Zealanders were superior in loose, bustling rushes. The real superiority of the Englishmen was behind the scrum. Parkin and Reea 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 almost continuous line-kicking duel between the opposing fullbacks, Dufty and Sullivan. Both gave a remarkably fine display and finished the game with honours easy. The teams were England. , Fullback: Sullivan. Threequarters: G wynne, Fairclough* Askin, Frodsbam. Halves: J. Parkin (captain), Rees Forwards: Bowman, Bentham, Thoinp* son, Fiides, Bowen, Horton. New Zealand. Fullback: Dufty. Threequarters: Hardgrave, Brisbane, L. Scott.

Five-eighths: Prentice, M. WetheriH (captain).

Halfback; Peckham. Forwards: Hutt, Townsend, Hall, Goodall, M. O'Brien, B. Eckhoff. Magnificent Goal by Dulty.

England won the toss and set NewZealand to play against a very troublesome sun in the first half. The opening five minutes of play made it clear to players and spectators that no infringements would be passed over. Several free kicks were awarded. England was first to gain a decided territorial advantage, but the visitors were penalised and play went, to the English twenty-five, where Sullivan was; tackled with the ball. New Zealand was; awarded a penalty when Peckham was collared and Dufty landed a magnificent goal. New Zealand . . . . ... 2 . England 0 A brilliant movement was started by Ilardgrave in the English twenty-five.-Prentico carried the movement on and let the ball out to Wetherill when he 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. New Zealand: was winning most of the scrums, but Parkin, after the English back had won"the ball cleanly from a scrum, let Askin and Fairclough away to near the line, where Eckhoff tackled Fairclough well. Gwynne Dives lor the Line. On the other wing Parkin staged a, clever piece of passing with Rees, whosflt pass to Sullivan, however., was forward. The Englishmen tried the other win# with mora luck. Gvvvnne took the ball 20yds from the linp, dodged three New Zealanders, and dived as three opponents landed on his back. Fairclough, following fast, ground the ball. Sullivan failed with the kick. England 3 New Zealand . . .. . . 2 Peckham opened up the next bright' movement from his own Ho cut in to pass three opponents and passed to Scott xvhen he met Sullivan, but Scott was smothered. Fairclough failed to hold a hot pass from Parkin, and then the crowd called for Dufty when a penalty was awarded New Zealand'. The Au iklander's kick just failed. Soon afterwards Sullivan had like ill-fortune, missing a shot from near half-way. Nothing of moment happened unjtil half-time. Best Passing of the' Day. Not long after resumption the Englishmen showed their real quality in a. brilliant piece of passing, the best of th® whole match. From a scrum Parkin and Bees reverse passed and the ball then went to Askin, to Bees, to Parkin and back to Askin. who showed good speed in a dash for the line with a clear fields Sullivan's kick missed. England 6 New Zealand 2 The New Zealand forwards, with a. scrambling rush along the touchline, took play to England's line, Goodall and O'Brien being prominent. O'Brien touched down. Dufty missed'in the kick at goal. Play became, faster on resumption. Often New Zealand had a territorial advantage.* and indeed had it for most of t l 'n remainder of the game, but lacked ability to round off the attacks. The Englishmen always seemed the rnoro dangerous. The contest ended:— Englanil . . . . . . . . 6 New Zealand . . . . . 5