England 16-17 New Zealand: Shaun Johnson drop goal sinks Wayne Bennett's men
Last Updated: 30/10/16 5:06pm
A Shaun Johnson drop goal consigned England to a 17-16 loss in their opening match of the Ladbrokes Four Nations.
New Zealand led 6-4 at half time thanks to a try from Jordan Rapana and two points from the boot of Jordan Kahu, with Gareth Widdop offering two penalties in response.
Man of the match Johnson then got his side off to the perfect start after the break, intercepting a pass from Widdop to race over untouched.
Jermaine McGillvary scored to hit back for England, but an unconverted Rapana try had New Zealand six points ahead late in the third quarter. Ryan Hall then crossed for England, and Widdop converted impressively from the touchline to set up a thrilling finish with 20 minutes remaining.
In the end the result was settled by Johnson, who slotted a drop goal from right in front in the 66th minute as New Zealand held out for a tense win.
England dominated the opening 25 minutes but only had two penalties from the boot of Widdop to show for their efforts.
McGillvary had a couple of half-chances on his home ground, second rower John Bateman was held up over the line and prop James Graham had a try disallowed for a double movement.
The tide appeared to turn on the decision to disallow Graham's effort as the New Zealanders secured a foothold in the game, aided by a run of penalties - one of which was kicked by full-back Jordan Kahu to reduce England's lead.
Centre Solomone Kata was then denied a try when it was ruled England full-back Jonny Lomax got a hand to Johnson's grubber kick to make the ball dead. But the pressure finally told six minutes before the break when Johnson and Kahu combined to create the space to work Rapana over at the corner.
That enabled the Kiwis to turn around 6-4 in front and they doubled their score within two minutes of the re-start when Johnson intercepted Widdop's pass and held off the pursuing Luke Gale to touch down at the corner.
Kahu added the difficult conversion but England responded immediately, with McGillvary taking second rower Elliott Whitehead's pass and wrong-footing the defenders to cross wide out for a try goaled by Widdop.
A superb offload from substitute forward Manu Ma'u then got Rapana into space and he trampled over Lomax to score his second try.
Kahu's conversion attempt re-bounded off an upright, which kept England within a score, and it was all square on the hour after a couple of instinctive plays. An overhead flick pass from Widdop got winger Hall into his stride and his diving, one-handed finish brought him his 29th try in as many appearances for his country.
Widdop's touchline conversion made it 16-16 but Johnson edged his side back in front with a 65th-minute drop goal which, despite the efforts of Burgess, proved to be the final act of a pulsating match.
