England has clinched the first test against New Zealand running out 26-12 winners at Hull’s KC Stadium after the scores were locked 12-all at half-time.

Making the victory that much sweeter, their first against the Kiwis in four years, was the comeback after New Zealand shot out to a 10-0 lead in the first stanza.

Makeshift Kiwi playmaker Peta Hiku went to the line and sent Melbourne Storm’s Tohu Harris galloping through a gaping hole to score after only six minutes. They were over again ten minutes later when former Hull bookend Sam Moa crashed over after some nice lead-up work from gun fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

The English hit back through Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson after an Elliot Whitehead offload bounded off the leg of team-mate Zak Hardaker and into the waiting arms of Hodgson who scored his first try in national colours.

Issac Luke kicked a penalty goal to make it 12-6 and it could have been more if not for the video referee disallowing a Jordan Kahu try after an obstruction was ruled earlier in the piece.

A rampaging Brett Ferres hit back for England running off a George Williams offload to lock the scores at 12 at the break.

The home side had all the running with Tom Burgess and James Roby leading the way and after Widdop kicked a penalty five minutes into the second-half England never looked back.

With just over a quarter of the match remaining Ferres forced himself over the line to extend England’s lead and officially sealed the win in the 77th minute when skipper Sean O’Loughlin dived over.

The series now moves to London when England will be looking to seal the series.

England 26 (T: Ferres 2, Hodgson, O’Loughlin; G: Widdop 5) New Zealand 12 (T: Harris, Moa; G: Luke 2) at KC Stadium Crowd: 23, 526.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-OP37Rv6fM

Video Source: Tony TH