New Zealand Maori (0) 18
Tries: Thompson, Heremaia, Chase. Goals: Locke 3
England (18) 18
Tries: Atkins, Tomkins, O'Loughlin. Goals: Widdop 3

Ryan Atkins was one of England's try scorers against New Zealand Maori

England threw away an 18-0 lead to draw with New Zealand Maori in their final warm-up game before the Four Nations.

England were impressive in a first half that saw them take a commanding lead through tries from Ryan Atkins, Sean O'Loughlin and Sam Tomkins.

But the tourists faded as the Maori staged an impressive fightback to draw level late on in the game in Auckland.

And it could have been worse for Steve McNamara's side had Arana Taumata succeeded with a last-minute drop goal.

England played most of the match without new captain Adrian Morley, who was withdrawn after only 12 minutes as a precaution after he took a knock to his upper arm.

The tourists were already without rested front-row duo James Graham and Stuart Fielden but Darrell Griffin, Earl Crabtree and Ben Westwood stepped into the breach as England dominated early on.

Tomkins was a constant threat at half-back, although there were early signs of rustiness, with Australian-based forwards Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis producing uncharacteristic handling errors.

Ellis also had an early try disallowed after full-back Kevin Locke managed to dislodge the ball from his grasp as he went over the line.

It took England 20 minutes to open the scoring, offloads from Crabtree and Ellis creating the space for Tomkins to get centre Atkins over the line.

Another audacious Crabtree offload enabled lively substitute Luke Robinson to get Tomkins racing away for a second try on 27 minutes and, with the final move of the first half, Robinson's pace created an easy score for loose forward O'Loughlin.

Widdop's three conversions made it 18-0, and the visitors looked set to continue in the same vein when Westwood was denied a try early in the second half.

But the Maori then began their comeback against a tiring England, with loose forward Bodene Thompson finishing off a flowing move on 52 minutes.

Ten minutes later hooker Aaron Heremaia collected a kick from Castleford half-back Rangi Chase to grab a second try, which was converted by Locke.

The lead was down to only two points eight minutes from the end when Chase's speculative kick from a scrum deep inside the Maori half put Widdop in trouble, and Taumata claimed a third try.

As England clung on to their lead, Tom Briscoe and Robinson came up with crucial steals to keep the rampant Maori at bay but, when Ellis was pulled up for interference at the play-the-ball, Locke levelled the scores with a penalty.

New Zealand, England's opponents in the opening match of the Four Nations next week, put in a ruthless display to beat Samoa 50-6.

The Kiwis scored 10 tries, including six in the second half, in a thoroughly dominant performance.

New Zealand Maori: Locke, Earl, Tahu, Toopi, Manihera, Taumata, Chase, Tamou, Heremaia, Packer, Hauraki, Horo, Thompson.
Replacements: Smith, Proctor, McKendry, Brown.

England: Widdop, Briscoe, Shenton, Atkins, Hall, Brown, S Tomkins, Morley, Roby, Griffin, Ellis, Burgess, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Crabtree, J Tomkins, Westwood, Robinson.

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