FIRST TEST MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 6

FIRST TEST MATCH

ENGLAND WINS, 12-0

EXHILARATING DISPLAY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, June 5. After a spring-like week, snow and j sleet showers marred conditions at the Carisbrook ground for ,the first international Association football contest between England and New Zealand, which England won by 12 goals to nil. The attendance was 3500. The visitors were obviously more at home on the wet ground than the New Zealanders, trapping, passing, and shooting with precision. They were further superior in their understanding between backs and forwards, and despite the conditions they gave an exhilarating exhibition of highgrade football. The New Zealand team was sadly lacking in cohesion. The forwards | could not penetrate the well-organ-1 ised defence, of which Joy was the ■ pivot, and misdirected their attack at critical stages. Despite the score of 12-0 against him, Cam'eson kept goal brilliantly for New Zealand and received strong support against an aggressive side from Sutherland, Haggitt, and Gerrard. The teams were:— New Zealand.—Goal, Cameron (Auckland); full-backs, Haggitt (Auckland) and Gerrard (Auckland); halves, Todd (Wellington), Sutherland (Otago, captain), and Gordon (Canterbury); forwards. Wood (Auckland), Duncan (Otago), Leslie (Wellington), Farnan (Auckland), and Kay (AuckEngland.—Goal. L. T. Huddle; fullbacks, G. A. Strasser and H. S. Eobbins; half-backs, J. W. Lewis, B. Joy, and T. H. Leek; .forwards, E. C. Collins. S. Eastham, G. J. Mathews,' L. C. Thornton, and L. C. Finch. New Zealand kicked off in pelting sleet. The visitors at once attacked and a centre from Collins was goaled by Mathews two minutes after the opening. New Zealand advanced smartly on the left to the goal area, but met- sound defence. Clever combination had New Zealand defending again, Joy sending the ball over the bar with a strong shot and Cameron had to clear a stinging drive from Lewis. Nice work by Duncan and Leslie saw English territory invaded, but the slippery ground nullified the advantage and Joy, with a shot half the length of the field, brought Cameron out to clear safely. Three English corner kicks .went amiss. _ , , By beautiful passing England travelled the length of the field, Cameron saving from a brilliant drive by Finch. New Zealand agam advanced promisingly, but found Joy invincible. The ball was worked down the right wing to Collins, whose well-timed centre was headed into the goal by Thornton. The visitors were now getting into their stride, attacking frequently, but they were kept out by Cameron, who saved four shots brilliantly. Several likely movements by New Zealand failed through lack of combination, the ball being misdirected at likely stages. One exception was when Sutherland, Duncan, Wood, and Leslie threaded through to give Wood a shot which went outside. Just before half-time England's right attack outwitted the defence and, from a smart centre by Collins, Eastham scored with a bullet shot, giving England a 3-0 lead at halftime. England's goalkeeper had handled only twice. ■ Immediately on resuming a dazzling movement by England's backs and forwards gave Finch a clear run to beat Cameron with a carpet drive. England continued to be aggressive, and Collins slipped across to Eastham, who goaled from close in. After Thornton had lifted over the bar and Mathews had brought Cameron. .-.'to, the ground to clear a hard drive, Finch secured and crossed to Eastham, who notched the visitors' sixth goal in driving sleet. ■ Finch • then crossed to Thornton, who brought England's second spell tally to four in thirteen minutes.

A welcome change of venue was brought about by nice work by Leslie, Wood, and Duncan, but Huddle cleared easily from a weak shot by Leslie. England attacked again. Cameron cleared a shot, but Finch returned and. Sutherland conceded a penalty by fisting it out, Eastham goaling. New Zealand again reached the visitors' goal-mouth, where a free kick was awarded England owing to two forwards attempting to play the ball while it was held by the goalkeeper. New Zealand lost an opportunity when Sutherland placed to wood, but Leslie and Farnan failed to press home the movement. .Later Farnan, when forcing a corner,, was injured in a collision with Joy and left the field.

From the clearance the visitors went right through the defence, Finch goaling easily. New Zealand staged a bright patch of play, thrice endangering the goal from advances by Wood on which Leslie closed unsuccessfully. Mathews then scored again as the result of smart work by.; Finch. Just before time Lewis, with a stinging left-footer, and Collins, from a solo effort, scored, the game ending:— England 12 New Zealand 0 , Mr. W.-P. Smith was referee.