FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL

FIRST LEAGUE TEST. AUSTRALIANS WIN. .[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, Oct. 5. The first Rugby League football test match between the Australian team and the representatives of England was played 'to T day. The result was that Australia beat England by 31 points to 8. ’* In the first spell the Australians were leading by 18 to 2. .Parkin was unable to play for England. The home side started the game with a strong attack, but then the visitors got going at a terrific pace. Busch, Treweeke and Gorman were playing a great game. The Australians carried all liefore them. There were twenty thousand spectators. The game was played at Craven Park, at Hull. The decisiveness of the score did not exaggerate the Australians’ superiority, which extended to every phase of the game. England wais beaten both in speed and in the general .understanding of the game, and they paid the penalty for tlieir weakness in defence. The only department in which England could claim any advantage was in the scrum, where they gained possession of the ball nine times out of ten, but this advantage was nullified by hesitancy and faulty passing. In fact the English backs were made to an pear very moderate, fl'lie absence of Parkin, Brough and Ellahy through injuries weakened the side, but this did not excuse tlieir feeble display. Treweeke, Shankling (2). Prigg. Bishop, Spencer and Weissell scored tries for the Australians. Weissell converted five tries. For England, Middleton and Freetli-s am scored tries, while Thompson kicked a penalty goal.