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The first ever State of Origin game between the North and South of England lived up to its star billing. The South of England built up an early lead but the North never gave up and two tries either side of the interval set up the closest of finishes and it took a Golden try in extra time to separate the sides.

The South of England enjoyed much of the early pressure, being held on the try line twice in the first five minutes and forcing the North to kick out from under their posts early in the game, but some resolute defending kept the South at bay. Jimmy Lewis tried an early drop goal for the Blues, but it wnet wide. Some of the early pressure was self-inflected as the North conceded a number of early penalties and it was from a penalty on six minutes that the South took an early lead.

Brendan Cook was held down by his shirt by the tackled player as he tried to get to his feet 35 metres in front of the North of England’s posts, Richard Whitehouse kicking the penalty for an early two points lead.

As the game settled down both teams enjoyed attacking spells, and with each side completing their tackle sets and kicking well on the last play, the game was end to end rugby, until the North broke the pattern on 11 minutes to take the lead for the only time in the game.

The North put in some big hits in an attacking set just left of the centre channel before Daryl Lacey spun the ball wide to Chris Trenham on the left wing who broke through an arms length tackle and ran wide round he South’s defence to touch down from 30 metres. Paul Lord converting to give the North a 6-2 lead.

The south regained the lead on 17 minutes when Grant Farrow broke on the scoot from his own 30-metre line through the centre field to the posts, and on 23 minutes they extended their lead further when Dave Ellison broke out his own 20 metre area through the centre of the North’s defence to the North’s 20 metre line before popping the ball to Dave West in support to score under the posts. Richard Whitehouse converted both tries for a 14 –6 lead.

Dave West score his second three minutes latter with a superb 40 metre angled run after a great ball from Rick Mee, West starting wide on the left, side stepping defenders as he cut across field to score by the posts. Whitehouse again converting for the extra 2 points to make the score 20-6 to the south of England.

As half time approached the North pushed hard to get themselves back into the game and on 34 minutes got the break they were looking for when, with the South being forced to defend their line, the tackle count was reset to zero. The North were twice held on the line before moving the ball through safe hands the width of the pitch to expose gaps in the South’s line wide on the right, Mike McFarland crossing the line to touch down. Paul Lord converting to make the half time score 20-12 to the South.

From the restart the North of England put themselves right back in contention when Farrow knocked on from the kick off. With their first tackle set of the half they spread the ball wide to the right where Paul Lord found the space to touch down for a try, which he converted himself to close the gap to two points at 20-18.

As the second half progressed the crowd was entertained with some passionate rugby, with both sides aware that any mistakes could decide the match the score remained unchanged until the 61st minute.

The North conceded a needless penalty for dissent on their 30-metre line from which the South launched an attack that was twice held on the line. They then moved the ball across the width of the field through safe hands to Jon Stabler wide on the right who dived over the line for an unconverted try.

As the game entered the last quarter the pressure started to show on some players. After 64 minute Brendan Lewis appeared to got away with a stiff talk from the referee for a reckless challenge on Dave West.