The NZ Kiwis have fallen to a rugby league series defeat against England, after losing the second test 20-14 in Liverpool on Monday (NZ time).
Winger Tommy Makinson grabbed a hat-trick, as England bravely fought back from 14-6 down late in the second half in Liverpool, to seal the win and the series, after their 18-16 victory in Hull last weekend.
Makinson's 74th-minute match-winning try was the difference, as England scored three tries in the final 23 minutes to overcome the eight-point deficit.
Replays showed Makinson may have lost control of the ball over the line, but TMO Ben Thaler didn't see enough evidence to overturn Gerard Sutioon's on-field decision of try.
The Kiwis were left to rue errors and ill-discipline, as they finished the match with a 69 percent completion rate, compared to England's 84 percent.
England led early in the match with a penalty goal in the fifth minute, when Jesse Bromwich smashed Sam Tomkins after he passed the ball.
But the Kiwis responded, when captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sliced through some poor defence to score the game's opening try.
Just before halftime, George Williams floated a beautiful pass to Makinson, who dived over in the corner for his first try, as both teams went into the break locked up at 6-6.
The Kiwis were the first to score in the second half, when halfback Kodi Nikorima put Watene-Zelezniak through a hole and then the fullback found Ken Maumalo out wide for the try.
In the 57th minute, England were hot on attack and a wayward pass was nearly intercepted by Kiwis centre Joseph Manu, which would have all-but sealed the win for the Kiwis.
But that was the start of England's fightback, as Makinson grabbed his second on the following set to make the score 14-10.
Eight minutes later, Jake Connor levelled the match up with England's third try, when he exposed New Zealand's weak left-flank defence.
As the Kiwis began to crumble with errors and silly penalties, they lost winger Jordan Rapana to a shoulder injury, forcing a back-line reshuffle.
With six minutes left, Makinson scored the match-winning try to seal the series.
The third test is scheduled for Monday, November 11 at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
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