League: Northland's Blair bumped by Brits

Elliott Whitehead (right) of England is tackled by Adam Blair (left) and Jordan Kahu of New Zealand during the the first test of three. Photo/ Getty

Kiwis co-captain Adam Blair will be lucky if he can't remember much of his side's opening test against England.

The Northlander suffered a hefty head knock in the 77th minute as England overcame a terrible start to beat the top-ranked New Zealand 26-12 in the first rugby league test at the KC Stadium this morning.

Substitute back-row forward Brett Ferres scored two of his side's three tries, following up his hat trick against France a week earlier, as England came from 10-0 down to secure its first win over the Kiwis since 2011.

Level 12-all at halftime, the Kiwis were more vigorous in the tackle and caused problems for their hosts with their offload play, orchestrated by Peta Hiku, a center who has been asked to perform the role normally carried out by England's regular scourge Shaun Johnson.

Hiku got second rower Tohu Harris charging through a gaping hole in England's defense for the game's first try on six minutes and 10 minutes later all eyes were on dangerman Roger Tuivasa-Sheck when the classy full-back popped out a neat pass for ex-Hull prop Sam Moa to crash over for a try.

Issac Luke kicked one conversion to make it 10-0, and England needed two huge slices of good fortune to haul themselves back into the game.

The first came when an offload in the tackle by second rower Elliott Whitehead rebounded off the knee of full-back Zak Hardaker and hooker Josh Hodgson was on hand to pick up the loose ball and canter over for his first try for his country.

Gareth Widdop added the conversion - the first of five goals from as many attempts - and although Luke extended his side's lead with a 26th-minute penalty England had a lucky escape when the video referees went against the inclination of match official Ben Thaler in disallowing a try from center Jordan Kahu for an obstruction in the build-up.

Steve McNamara's men turned the screw as the Kiwis began to lose their discipline and Ferres forced his way over from close range for his second try on 58 minutes, with Widdop kicking his fourth goal to make it 20-12.

England had to wait until the 77th minute to clinch the win, with skipper Sean O'Loughlin bouncing off his opposite number Adam Blair to score his side's fourth try.

Kiwis co-captain Issac Luke ignored media after the match, while Blair was off limits due to his head knock.

England 26 (J Hodgson, B Ferres 2, S O'Loughlin tries; G Widdop 5 goals)
New Zealand 12 (T. Harris, S. Moa tries; I Luke 2 goals)
Halftime: 12-12

-AP