Sporting Digest: Rugby League

England's Under-18 Academy side has made history by winning a Test in the southern hemisphere for the first time, beating the traditionally powerful Junior Kiwis 30-8 in Wellington. The Leeds pair, Danny McGuire and Gareth Morton, were the match-winners with two tries apiece.

The Australian Test winger Adam MacDougall scored four tries, three in the first half, to lead Newcastle to a 37-30 win over the New Zealand Warriors in Australia's National Rugby League. MacDougall's third try came four minutes before halftime when he kicked on the last tackle, regathered after the Warriors failed to handle an awkward bounce and scored to give the Knights a 14-12 lead at the half. When the Warriors threatened to take the lead in the dying minutes, MacDougall's fourth try sealed the match for Newcastle. In other matches yesterday, the Bulldogs beat Brisbane 37- 30 and the Wests Tigers defeated Canberra 28-22. Penrith broke a seven- match losing streak with a 26-16 win over the Sydney Roosters and Chris McKenna scored three tries as the Sharks beat the Northern Eagles 40-18. North Queensland, near the bottom of the standings, surprised the St George Illawarra Dragons 34-10. On Friday, Parramatta beat Melbourne 54-10.

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