BAD SPORTSMANSHIP IN RUGBY LEAGUE TEST IN AUSTRALIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 5

BAD SPORTSMANSHIP IN RUGBY LEAGUE TEST IN AUSTRALIA

ENGLAND THE WINNER Reed. 5.30 p.m. Sydney, July 21. In a game which was packed with incident, England defeated Australia in the third league test by 20 to 7, after Australia led 7-2 at half-time. There are mixed feelings about the game, which was played at the Sydney cricket ground. Though fists flew and Clues was ordered off naifway through the second spell, the referee. Mr. Tom McMahon, says that the game was not dirty. For the second time in 17 years as a referee he had to issue a caution to both sets of forwards, but is of opinion that the game never looked like getting out of hand. Some of the Press critics, however, deplore the punching and displays of generally bad sportsmanship. “There was more downright bad sportsmanship and disgusting bad temper during that game than any I have seen during the past 36 years,’’ writes Harry Sunderland in tb-day’s “Sun.” “There was also gameness and much sound play.”

The Australian full-back, Parkinson, defied Hie doctor and played on after a leg injury had been diagnosed as a possible fracture of the fibula. Though the diagnosis was later confirmed by X-Ray, he carried on for "0 minutes till the end of the match. On several occasions Risman and others refrained from tackling the crippled Australian.

The game had two brilliant phases. The first was when Kennedy scored a try and Jorgenson kicked two goals to lead England by five points against a field goal by Risman in the first half. The second was when Risman, rallying the Englishmen after the interval. led them in amassing eight points in six minutes, with a goal by Risman and tries by Bassett and Curran. After the loss of Clues, Australia fought a losing battle. England scored ten more points through tries by Owens and Bassett, converted by Risman and Ward. The first group of English players left Sydney to-day for New Zealand by plane.