"It's very disappointing," said Kiwis winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall. "We had our chances, particularly in the second half but we just couldn't take them. In the end I think mistakes cost us - you can't keep coughing up the ball against a team like England. We played well at times but it wasn't enough."
This will be a tough defeat to take - and the Kiwis will wonder quite how they contrived to lose this game, after creating numerous opportunities.
But the home side, roared on by a magnificent crowd, also seemed to want it a little more, to dig deeper when it counted and that was enough to make the difference.
The teams scored three tries apiece, but Gareth Widdop was impeccable with his goal kicking (4/4) while Issac Luke landed only one from three.
New Zealand fired plenty of shots in the first hour, for the return of a single Jason Nightingale try. Then England scored two tries in quick succession to extend their 8-6 halftime advantage to an unassailable 20-6 lead. The Kiwis then mounted an improbable comeback, with spectacular tries to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jordan Kahu but ultimately ran out of time.
In awful conditions, with freezing temperatures and persistent rain, this game was a beauty. The first half alone was more gripping than the both of the previous two tests put together. Then the second half was even better. And as you would expect, no quarter was given; it was blood and thunder stuff.
Props Sam Moa and James Graham were engaged in a running battle from the start, and twice in the first 20 minutes the two teams came together as tempers frayed.
England opend the scoring in the 27th minute. New halfback Matty Williams - who made an impact from the outset with his link up play - put through a clever grubber which Elliott Whitehead got to, eventually. It was a touch fortuitous but you make your own luck at this level.
After Nightingale had gone close on two previous occasions, the Dragons winger finally got across with his third opportunity, in the 37th minute. Hiku ran it on the fifth tackle from just over halfway, releasing Alex Glenn. Kodi Nikorima backed up, before finding Nightingale on the outside.
The finish by Nightingale was as good as we have seen this season, soaring up and over the top of Zac Hardaker, then showing great skill to retain control of the ball as he landed from a great height. It was an impressive play, which drew a generous applause from the capacity crowd as it was replayed on the big screen.
"I had no choice - I had to go over the top," said Nightingale. "It's not something you necesarily practice but when the moment comes you have to do it."
If anything, the quality only increased in the second half. The defences remained as solid as ever, but the attacks started to spark. The Kiwis put together one of the best set moves of the tour to release Tuivasa-Sheck through the middle - finally - but he was snared by a magnificent cover tackle by Gareth Widdop.
New Zealand had enjoyed the better of the second half but couldn't force their way over. They had two repeat sets, and incessant pressure but the white wall of England held firm.
Instead, the home side extended their lead in the 64th minute. After conceding a soft penalty - the referee found a marginal high tackle by Tohu Harris - from the next set Whitehead scored his second try, showing remarkable strength to shrug off three New Zealand defenders. Widdop converted, and an eight point lead with 15 minutes to play was always going to be different to overhaul, especially in the conditions. It looked impossible when Sean O'Loughlin went over in the 71st minute, but the Kiwis made a good go of it, with two tries in the last six minutes to Tuivasa-Sheck and Kahu before time ran out.
England 20 (E. Whitehead 2, S O'Loughlin tries, G Widdop 4 goals)
New Zealand 14 (J Nightingale, R Tuivasa-Sheck, J Kahu try, I Luke goal)
Halftime: 8-6
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