LEAGUE TEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 37, 6 November 1937, Page 14

LEAGUE TEST

KANGARQQS UNLUCKY NARROW W1N BY EiNGL/M) HOME StDE RARELY LOOKED UKE SOOREVG. The vlew that the Australian Rugby League team was "Unluckily beaten" by 5 points to 4 in the first Test with England at Leeds Was expressed by Fred Tottey in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. Tottey's account of the match states England attacked at the outset, but, following obstruction, McKinnon drove them back to their own twenty-five. Then Woods, from a loose pack, was penalised for off-side , and Beaton goaled from the twenty-five, wide out, giving AUstralia the lead after sevett mintites of play. The Australian forwards were delving in and showing more pace than the English sik, H. Pierce, the hooker, contrary to expectations, hoiding his own against Armitt. Strokes of Luck. England's full*back, Belshaw, whose litte kicking WaS Weak, ch&nged his tacticS and began running his backs ihto position, but the Australian defende was impdnetrable, mainly because oi the flne tacklihg of Beaton and McKinnoh. England was lucky when P. Wiliiams, from the base of the scrum, pUnted high over Cunniffe's head and Bert Wiliiams, chasing hard after the ball, gained pessessiort. Only Bel* shaw's brilliant tackhhg forced him into touch at the corner. Australia contihued to attack, but a scissors movement between Reardon and Beaton failed td reach iruitiort when McKinnon over-ran the final pass. After Beverley, Hodgson and ATkwright had cleverly dribbied the bail 30 yards Jenkins snapped it tip and swung it hard to Risman, Who, With Morley on the outside unmarked, dropped an easy pass. I thought Aus* tralia was most lticky td get dufc of that. Norman, playing flnely, overshadowed Jenkins, and only Beveriey,a qulck breaking restrained the Australian five-eighth. Pierce was penalised for not playing the ball correctly, .and Hodgson goaled from the twenty-five. Atistralia definitely was the better Side in the first balf, but many movements were never well flnished. Following the spell McCue was penalised for not putting the ball in the scrum, and Beaton goaled from six yards inside half-way. Then from a flne iine kick by Belshaw England entered the Australian' twenty-five. Beaton, after attempting to clear, was grassed by Arkwright. He got up groggy. MeCue, from the following scrum, passed to Jenkins, who ran diagonally, then, straightening up, shot past Beaton, accelerated, and went over the line for & flne try.

''Out on His Feet," From my position this movement looked like the old English one seen last se&son in Australia. Risman, cutting diagonally across Norman, caused him to take his eyes off Jenkins, who, taking advantage of the openihg thus created, was able to score. Beaton, Who was obviously "out on his feet," did not see him. Hodgson missed an easy shot at goal, but England was now leadihg, 5 — 4, and 15 minutes left for play. Australia tried hard to make up the leeway, but poor handling by Bert Wiliiams spoiled several movements. Reardon and Norman twice beat the whole defehCe itt the dlosing stages, but delayed passing upset Australia's hopes. The Australian forwards were superior in speed to England's, but lacked tightness. Pierce was definiteiy successfUl as hooker, winning only six fewer scrums than Armitt. Prigg was also at his finest. Australia certaihly produced clever football, which the crowd appreciated. The only times England looked like scoring were when they succeeded. There were no more than three cOmpleted English movements. Bert Wiliiams and Reardon had a tendency to pass infield, which is . a natural fault with wing men who normally played in the centre.