ENGLAND WINS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 151, 1 August 1914, Page 10

ENGLAND WINS.

THE LEAGUE GAME. SOME BRILLIANT PLAY. Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 1. The Northern Union match, England v. New Zealand, was played on the Domain this afternoon. The attendance totalled 15,000. Heavy rain had fallen overnight, and further showers fell just before the game commenced, making the ground Somewhat slippery. THE PLAY. .••'-' ' The Englishmen commenced with a vigorous attack, and play concentrated in the home team's twenty-five. Hargreayes forced within five. minutes of the commencement of the game, but the Englishmen were not to be denied, and vigorously attacked. Waters made an opening, and carried play back to halfway. .1 Here Wilson got possession, and, with a fine run, Teaehed the Englishmen's citadel. From a scrum in front of the visitors' goal Bradley got the ball, and attempted to pot a field goal, the ball sailing just under the bar. From the kick out the Englishmen followed downfield, and a fine passing rush resulted in Hall and Wagsstaff spoiled a scoring chance, and play was forced back to half way. But here the Englishmen managed a truly brilliant bit of play. Coldrick sent out the ball to Wagstaffe who, after a nippy run, sent on to Jenkins and he in turn, after a brilliant run, transferred to Moorhouse. The latter scored England's first try at the end of fifteen minutes' play. Wood converted.

The Englishmen continued to attack and the New eZalanders, who were slow to tackle, were repeatedly in difficulties. From a scrum on the twenty-five line Smith got possession, and a brilliant bit of passing, in which Jenkins, Wagstaffe, and Moore"house participated, resulted . in the latter planting the ball behind the goal posts. Wood failed to convert., England 8, New Zealand 0.

The Englishmen continued to indulge in open play, and from half-way Hall, Wagstaffe, Davies, and Holland carried play right on to the home team's line. A fine tackle by Hargreaves, resulted in Holland being brought down right under the cross bar. The blacks then managed to penetrate their opponents' territory. Some very rough play, in which a New Zealand forward indulged in very questionable tactics, followed. Twice here the visitors were penalised in front of their goal, but Ifwersen was not in kicking humour, easy kicks going wide. .;..«;

From open play Wilson-- got possession, and, out distancing Davies, ran round and planted a meritorious try right behind the goal posts: Ifwersen again failed with the England 8, New Zealand 3. i' ' : STILL SCORING. Smith made the opening for England's next score,' and the home team failed to checkmate the English backs. Wagstaffe, Jenkins, and Davies between them carried the ball to the line, where Davies scored. Wood,failed to convert. England 11, New Zealand 3. The first spell then 1 ended. ; : ; Second SpelL 0 , 1 The Englishmen were penalised shortly after the resumption of'play, and, from near half way Ifwersen made a good attempt to pilot the ball over the cross bar. Playing with/great heart the. blacks attacked with rare dash, and Wilson made an opening. All the home blacks participated in some fast, open work along the visiting team 'k line, and Banks scored a try, amidst great excitement. Ifwersen kicked an easy goal. England 11, New Zealand 8., Heartened by their success, the New Zealanders played aggressive and brilliant football! A shower of rain at this stage made the ball greasy. During -some lose play the backs ,were penalised from near half way. Wagstaffe got in a brilliant kick, which just missed: Play i£oF; the -next quarter of an hour continued to be of a very even nature, but, after consistently sound play, the blacks gave the Englishmen an opening, and Johnson, gathering in ba,H r ran through and planted it behind th,e posts. Woods converted. England 16, New Zealand 8. Resuming England attacked smartly. Moorehouse got over-and Woods converted. Just before call of time Wilson scored for New Zealand and Ifwersen converted, the game ending amid a scene of wild excitement. England 16 New Zealand .. .. 13