FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!
  
The expectation at a full John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield was palpable for an English winning start to their four nations campaign against a New Zealand side keen to banish all memories of a loss against Australia a fortnight ago.

England were the slight favourites with most bookies, but there was very little to choose between the two sides as Sam Burgess returned to the international rugby scene as the England captain.

Coach Bennett make a handful of changes to the side who beat France in last weeks friendly, most notably through the inclusion of Dan Sarginson and Sam Burgess, meaning that three of the Burgess brothers would be in action this afternoon.

On England's first attack the Kiwis were adjudged offside by referee Hicks and Gareth Widdop accepted the opportunity to kick a thirty metre penalty to open the afternoon's scoring.

On ten, Widdop doubled the England lead after Shaun Johnson had tackled him high twenty five metres from the New Zealand sticks.

New Zealand had their chances but as the game wore on it was England who were having the best of it, spending long periods camped deep in the Kiwis half and causing problems with the speed of the play the ball.

On twenty-two it looked like James Graham had scored but after referring the decision to the video referee as a 'No Try' the fourth official determined that Graham had been guilty of a double movement.

On the half hour Jordan Kanu got New Zealand off the mark with a twenty metre penalty after England interfered at the play the ball close to their own line. One minute later Solomone Kata looked to have grounded a Kanu grubber but video replays showed that full-back Jonny Lomax managed to ground the ball dead in goal.

On thirty-four New Zealand scored the first four-pointer of the game when a miss-out pass from Kanu found Jordan Rapana in space on the right wing to go ten metres and ground one-handed by the corner flag. Kanu failed to convert from the touchline but New Zealand led by 6-4 at the interval.

It had been an edgy and nervous first half. Both sides had their periods of pressure and position but neither really capitalised and at the interval the game was still there for either side to win.

Disaster struck in the opening minute of the second half when Johnson intercepted a Widdop pass and went seventy metres, outpacing the England defenders, to score five in from the right corner flag. Kanu added the conversion, straight between the uprights, to give New Zealand a lead cushion at 12-4.

On forty-six England shunned a simple two point penalty and ran the ball. On the fifth tackle a great pass from Elliott Whitehead put Jermaine McGillvary free wide right to duck inside his tackler and ground. Widdop added the extras and England were back within two.

McGillvary did well to thwart a New Zealand attack on fifty-four, preventing a certain try but a minute later and Lomax failed to bring down Rapana in full flight who went thirty metres to score by the uprights. When Kana hit the post with the conversion he left the door ajar for England at 16-10.

As the game hit the hour mark Ryan Hall took a half chance when a Widdop tip pass went to hand and the winger outpaced the New Zealand defence to ground in the corner. Widdop converted brilliantly from the touchline and the two sides were tied up at sixteens.

On sixty-five Johnson confused the England defence and kicked a drop goal from inside the ten, rather than put in a grubber. He edged his side a point ahead in a game where it looked like every point would matter.

Widdop slid a long range drop goal attempt wide on seventy-seven and when Sam Burgess offloaded into Kiwi hands with ninety seconds left it was game over and the narrowest of wins for the All Blacks.

It was a close but nervy game. Both sides had their chances to win it but an out-of-the-blue drop goal from Shaun Johnson was the difference between the two sides. England had the chances to level the scores with plenty of possession in the New Zealand half, but they failed to engineer a kickable drop goal opportunity.

New Zealand must now be favourites to join Australia in the final with England likely needing wins against Scotland and Australia.

England: Lomax, McGillvary (T), Watkins, Sarginson, Hall (T), Widdop (4G), Gale, Hill, Hodgson, Graham, Whitehead, Bateman, Burgess S. Subs: Burgess G, Burgess T, Cooper, Clark.

New Zealand: Kanu (2G), Nightingale, Kata, Kenny-Dowall, Rapana (2T), Leuluai, Johnson (T, DG), Bromwich, Luke, Warea-Hargreaves, Proctor, Harris, Taumalolo. Subs: Brown, Taupau, M'au, Blair.

Referee: Rob Hicks.

Attendance: 24,070.


facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 29th Oct 2016 4:32 PM | Views : 40197 | Replies : 62 | BACK TO STORIES



All views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the RLFANS.COM or its subsites.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that news stories, articles and images are correct, we cannot be held responsible for errors. However, if you feel any material on this website is copyrighted or incorrect in any way please contact us using the link at the top of the page so we can remove it or negotiate copyright permission.

RLFANS.COM, the owners of this website, is not responsible for the content of its sub-sites or posts, please email the author of this sub-site or post if you feel you find an article offensive or of a choice nature that you disagree with.

Copyright 1999 - 2024 RLFANS.COM

You must be 18+ to gamble, for more information and for help with gambling issues see https://www.begambleaware.org/.



Please Support RLFANS.COM


8.10205078125:5
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
0m
TV Games - Not Hull
B0NES
1382
0m
Rd 6 I Cas A
gulfcoast_hi
38
2m
TV games not Wire
karetaker
2858
6m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
55991
12m
York - 14th April
Khlav Kalash
4
25m
Fevround 2
BarnsleyTrin
90
46m
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
Recent
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Mrs Barista
127
Recent
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
rhinosTY
36
Recent
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
24s
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
27s
Fevround 2
BarnsleyTrin
90
39s
Smith - should he stay or should he go
Steve0
353
49s
Halifax H
Maccbull_Big
32
50s
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
1m
Saints a
Mark_P1973
22
1m
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
1m
Shopping list for 2025
Tarquin Fueg
405
1m
Other Championship Clubs
Trojan Horse
97
1m
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
York - 14th April
Khlav Kalash
4
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
Mark_P1973
22
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
gulfcoast_hi
38
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Wanderer
17
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
post
4
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
515
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
638
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
562
Warrington Demolish London For..
669
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
715
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
697
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
937
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
910
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1056
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1029
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1094
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1071
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3846
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1192
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1069