RUGBY LEAGUE TEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 179, 1 August 1932, Page 5

RUGBY LEAGUE TEST

ENGLAND BEATS N.Z. FAST GAME AT AUCKLAND . VISITORS DISPLAY TEMPER. L Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 30.’ The first League test between England and New Zealand was played at Carlew Park to-day, England winning by 24 points to 9. The weather was beautifully fine but the ground w r as a little greasy. The attendance was 25,000. The game was fast and spectacular. The Englishmen’s superior weight gave their side a big advantage in the scrums. They gained possession from twenty to five in the first spell and eighteen to seven in the second spell. The New Zealand backs nullified this advantage to a great extent by playing right on top of their opponents. Visitors Penalised. The visitors were freely penalised in the first spell for obstruction and shepherding, sixteen penalties being given against England in the first half and five against New' Zealand. The penalising had the Englishmen rattled a good deal. On one occasion Sullivan, the 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 a good effect as the penalties decreased in the second spell, four being given against England and three against New Zealand. Cooke 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’Briend 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-quar-ters. The forwards, solid and powerful, handled well and were much too good at 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, Lowe, Thompson, Silcock, Hodgson, Fildes, Feetham.

New Zealand won the toss and played with the sun. They set up an early attack. Cooke cut in nicely and play settled near England’s line. From a penalty fairly wide out Laing goaled. Then from play just inside the New Zealand half Sullivan just missed a penalty and also missed an easier shot right in front at the twenty-five. The visitors were getting the ball from practically every scrum by superior w r eight but the New Zealand tackling wa*s sound. Eventually Hodgson picked up in the loose and passed to Ellaby, who side-stepped Laing to score in the corner. Sullivan missed the shot. England were penalised for shepherding but Cooke missed the shot from ten yards inside half-way. The visitors were penalised for offside following a five-yards scrum and Laing placed New Zealand ahead again with a nice goal. Hodgson then narrowly missde from a penalty near the touch-line. Passing between Evans, Brogden and Atkinson saw the last-named catch the defence on the hop, cut in and run over unopposed near the posts. Hodgson missed from an easy angle. Cooke Thrills the Crowd. Cooke, Smith and Hutt were associated in a splendid bout of in and out passing which thrilled the crowd, the ball going out a yard from the corner flag, play then swinging to the other side, where Laing failed with a penalty shot. Calder then missed a penalty near half-way. Sullivan, obviously annoyed at the frequent penalties, turned and kicked the ball deliberately into the Domain behind his own goal-line. The crowd hooted him roundly and 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 out by Masters to Brisbane, to Cooke, who dummied Brogden beautifully and scored near the posts. Lain converted and half-time arrived with the score: New Zealand 9; England 6. Shortly after resuming Hutt foolishly threw the ball towards the front of his own goal. The English backs broke away. Cooke brought Ellaby down well but after further short passing Atkinson scored in the corner. Sullivan kicked a great goal, placing England in the lead.

Laing missed an opportunity of evening 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, knocking on when trying to pick up the 6all. Scissors passing between Cooke and Smith saw the last-named 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. Presented With Try. New Zealand were in a good attack ing position when Hutt presented the visitors with another try. He passed straight into the hands of the Engilsh backs. The ball went out to Ellaby, nho sidestepped Laing cleverly and fin ished a sixty yards 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, and then Cooke was just beaten for the touch down by Brogden. A long kick by Sullivan gained ground and 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