ENGLAND’S TEST VICTORY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1932, Page 9

ENGLAND’S TEST VICTORY

LEAGUE MATCH AT AUCKLAND

NEW ZEALAND BACKS PLAY WELL. 25,000 SEE SPECTACULAR GAME. PENALTIES FREQUENT EARLIER Auckland, July 30. The first Rugby 'League test between England and New Zealand was played at Carlaw Park to-day, England winning by 24 points to 9. The weather was fine but the ground was a little greasy. The attendance was 25,000. The game was fast and spectacular. The Englishmen’s superior weight gave the side a big advantage in the scrums and they gained possession 20 times to 5 in the first spell, and 18 times to 7 in the second spell. The New Zealand backs nullified this advantage to a great extent by playing right on top of their opponents. The visitors. were freely penalised in the first spell for obstruction and shepherding. Sixteen penalties were given against England in the first half' and five against New Zealand. The penalising had the Englishmen rattled a good deal. On ose occasion Sullivan (English captain) displayed temper and lost his head, kicking the ball deliberately into the domain behind his own posts. A talk by the English managers at halftime evidently had good effect, as the ■penalties decreased in the second spell, four against England and three against New Zealand.

A. E. Cooke (formerly an All Black) and Brisbane were easily New Zealand’s best backs and with anything like a share of the ball Cooke would have been a more dangerous scorer than any of his opponents. Calder, O’Brien and St. George were the best forwards, Hutt spoiling his display by presenting the Englishmen with two tries. Sullivan’s kicking was of great assistance to England. Ellaby, Atkinson and Smith proved clever three-quarters, and the forwards, solid and powerful, handled well and were much -too good in scrummaging for the New Zealand pack. The teams were:—

New Zealand: Laing; Scott, List, Smith; Cooke, Brisbane; Masters; Calder, St. George, Stephenson, Timms, O’Brien, Hutt. .

England: Sullivan; Ellaby, Atkinson, Risman; Smith, Brogden; Evans; Thompson,.Lowe, Silcock, Hodgson, Fildes, Fleetham.

NEW ZEALAND ATTACKS EARLY.

New Zealand won the toss and played with the: sun. The New Zealanders set up an early attack. Cooke cut in neatly and play settled near England’s line. From a penalty fairly wide out Laing goaled. Then from play just inside New Zealand’s half Sullivan just missed goaling with a penalty kick. He also missed an easier shot right in front at the twenty-five. The visitors were, securing the ball from practically every scrum by superior weight, but the New Zealand tackling was sound. Eventually Hodgson picked up in the loose'and passed to Ellaby, who sidestepped Laing to score in the corner. Sullivan missed with the shot at goal. England was penalised for shepherding but Cooke missed from ten yards inside halfway. The- visitors were penalised for offside following a five-yard scrum and Laing placed New Zealand ahead with a neat goal. Hodgson then narrowly missed from a penalty near the touch-line.

Passing between Evans, Brogden and Atkinson saw the last-named catch the defence on , the hop. He cut in and ran over unopposed near the posts. Hodgson missed from an easy angle. Cooke, Smith and Hutt were associated in a splendid bout of in and out passing ■which thrilled the crowd. The" ball went oujt a yard from the corner. Play swung to the other side, where Laing failed with a penalty shot. Calder then missed with a penalty near halfway. Sullivan, obviously annoyed by the frequent penalties, turned and kicked the ball deliberately into the domain behind his own goal line. The crowd hooted him roundly. The referee gave a scrum five yards out, although once the ball became ' dead from a free-kick this was a doubtful decision. After further scrums the ball was passed by Masters 1 Brisbane and Cooke. Cooke dummied Brogden beautifully and scored near the posts. Laing converted the try. Half-time arrived with the score New Zealand 9, England 6. SULLIVAN’S GREAT KICKING. Shortly after resuming Hutt foolishly threw the ball towards the front of his own goal. The English backs brbke away. Cooke brought Ellaby town well but after further short passing Atkinson scored at the corner. Pullivan kicked a great goal, placing England in the lead. Laing had an opportunity to even the scores with a penalty, but the ball never rose. Cooke and List broke right away with a dribbling run but Masters spoiled the movement by knocking on in trying to pick up the ball. Scissors passing between Cooke and Smith , saw Smith run over but he was recalled for a forward pass. Silcock headed the English forwards with a rush' well inside the New Zealand half,, where Sullivan increased the visitors’ total with a splendid goal. Evans raced from a scrum and passed to Atkinson, who was almost over. A weak clearing kick, by Scott gave Silcock possession. He passed to Feetham, who scored wide out. Sullivan kicked another fine goal. New Zealand was in a good attacking Hutt presented the visitors with another try. He passed straight into the hands of the English backs. The ball went to Eliaby, who sidestepped Laing, cleverly and finished a sixty-yard run by grounding the ball at the corner. Sullivan missed. New Zealand then took another turn at attack, Laing passing to Scott, who gained a lot of ground. St. George missed a try from a scrummage on the line. Then Cooke was just beaten for the touch-down by Brogden. A long kick by. Sullivan gained ground. Then Smith picked up in the loose and sidestepped Laing. Cooke appeared to push the Englishman into touch-in-goal but a try was awarded. Sullivan missed and the game ended:—■ England 24 New Zealand .. 9