Bennett delighted with ‘special’ England side
WAYNE Bennett hailed the character and resolve of his depleted England side after they edged out New Zealand 18-16 in an absorbing rugby league Test in Hull.
A magnificent solo try 12 minutes from time on Saturday by debutant centre Oliver Gildart clinched a narrow victory for the hosts who were without several key players including Gareth Widdop, Sam Burgess and Kallum Watkins.
Gildart raced almost 50m at the KC Stadium after exploiting a gap in the Kiwi defence following a brilliant offload by Canberra-bound John Bateman.
“It was a great centre’s try, we don’t see enough of them,” Bennett said. “He did a great job, 50 metres, beat two or three players on the way, it was great to watch.”
New Zealand, fresh from their win over Australia earlier this month, looked the sharper of the two sides in the first half, with the hosts missing 17 tackles before the break.
Despite that, the scores were tied 12-all at the interval with Sam Tomkins opening the scoring in the fourth minute. The Kiwis hit back with four-pointers from Esan Marsters and skipper Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and looked on course to go in ahead at the break.
But on the stroke of halftime England levelled the scores at 12-all through a controversial penalty try when Jake Connor was adjudged by the video referee to have been impeded as he crossed the line.
The centre was held up by Johnson and Watene-Zelezniak, but the skipper was penalised for sliding in with his knees and the try awarded.
England were much improved after the restart and Bennett was delighted with the way his young side held on to see out the game after Gildart’s try.
“I hope you all realise you’ve got a pretty special footy team,” Bennett said.