FIRST LEAGUE TEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17155, 4 October 1926, Page 4

FIRST LEAGUE TEST

SEW ZEALAND GOES DOWN. BUT NOT DISGRACED. GREAT EAST-MINUTE EFFORT. lElcc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Aiisu.) [Australian and iN.Z. Cable Association.. LONDON, CKt. 2. England defeated the New Zealand League footballers by 28 points to 20 in the tirst- test match at Wigun, England scored six tries and live goals and the New Zealand League players four tries and four goals. The match was only lost by the visitors after a fine struggle, and they were by no means disgraced. They do not yet seem to be accustomed to English methods, and though they lacked the home team's pace they got the ball away from the scrums quickly. Ar; might be expected the best feature was the visitors' forward play. In the loose they showed rare bustling football. Most of their tries followed good work in the open. The visitors tried several new" formations in the second half, particularly when Delgrosso replaced Desmond at half, effecting- a distinct improvement. The team, however, seldom looked like winning. Mason, Avery and Mouat were the best forwards. Hall was excellent at half, and Brown and Brisbane were the best three-quarters. Gregory played a grand game at full-back. Parkin was a worthy captain and tho brains of Fngland. lie initiated nearly every scoring movement. Reese was a good half and C'arr and Rix were the pick of the three-quarters. The weather was astonishingly hot for an English October, and seemed to suit the visitors. Sullivan opened the scoring with a penalty goal almost from half-way. Then C'arr scrambled over after eleven minutes, Sullivan converting. A fine round of passing between Rees, Evans, Oarr and Rix ended in the last-named scoring, Sullivan again converting. Parkin got the ball out to Rees, and from thi L -j movement Taylor scored easily. Sullivan converted. The New Zealanders attajke'd with hard forward rushes and Avery carried three men over, and scored a good try, Mouat goaling. Then Gallagher scored under the posts and Sullivan goaled. England led by 20 points to 5 at halftime. The visitors improved in the second half, their defence being excellent, but they found the opposing backs obtaining the ball more often, and they were also faster and more clever. Nevertheless Brisbane got through for a nfce try, which Mouat converted. A beautiful passing rurih between Parkin, Rix and Taylor resulted in Taylor scoring. Cartadded another try, which Sullivan converted, making the .score 28 points to 10. In the last few minutes the New Zealanders made desperate efforts to equalise. Avery and Davidson each scored spectacular tries, Mouat converting both, making the final score England 28 points, New Zealand 20. The attendance was 14.500 and the receipts were £1630.