England fail to beat New Zealand

Ross Broadfoot was in Johnny Wilkinson mode but even his trusty left boot could not conjure a shock England victory over an outstanding New Zealand Schools side at Twickenham yesterday.

The Whitgift fly half kicked all thepoints in a resolute performance from a side that only came together lastweekend under coaches Peter Kingston and Brian Gornall. The pack, inparticular, never allowed New Zealand to get on top for long and Englandended the match battering against the New Zealand defence on their line andwere eventually rewarded with a penalty try.

Broadfoot collected three penalties, two drop goals and the conversion ofthe penalty try during the 29-22 defeat in which he also struck the postand bar with penalties from long range. But New Zealand's kicker, skipperand outside centre Luke McAlister, topped that by slotting five penaltiesand converting tries in each half from fly half James Gopperth and hookerLionel Wairau.

New Zealand, whose back play has been electric, head homewith seven wins out of eight games in England, Wales, Scotland and Francewhich were effectively all internationals. Their only loss came againstFrance U19 courtesy of a French referee and an injury time try.

England regroup for the home internationals but will be without full backJon Hammond. The RGS High Wycombe full back broke his left leg just abovethe ankle when he was tackled just short of the line in one of England'slast- ditch attacks. It is a big blow for the Bucks school who face JohnFisher in the Daily Mail U18 Cup quarter-finals next Wednesday.