England 18 New Zealand 20

WARRINGTON Wolves’ Ben Westwood and Chris Hill could only watch in dismay as one of sport’s all-time great injustices unfolded before their teary eyes at Wembley.

The powerhouse forwards, two of England’s most consistent performers during Rugby League World Cup 2013, had already been deemed to have done their work in assisting their country to within 21 seconds of a place in the final at Old Trafford.

They had run their blood to water, collected a couple of shiners and facial stitches for their trouble as Steve McNamara’s men came from behind to take an 18-14 lead against holders New Zealand in Saturday’s edge-of-the-seat semi final attended by 67,545 onlookers.

But after being substituted in the late stages, both were left feeling as helpless as the gripped 2.3 million BBC television audience as the Kiwis pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

Around the stadium, indeed around the country, hands were on heads and hearts were breaking as New Zealand scrum half Shaun Johnson skipped over for the try that he also converted with the final kick of an incredible match.

Emotions could not have been more contrasting – the men in black leaping around like turkeys that had missed the Christmas calling, while those in white were literally floored.

As far as the most dramatic sporting finales are concerned, it was more than a match for Leeds Rhinos ending Wolves’ play-offs dream with a last-gasp Kevin Sinfield penalty goal in 2011 and even Manchester United’s injury-time comeback against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Final of 1999 in Barcelona.

An appearance in the final, never mind a first win in the competition since 1972, could have done wonders for the sport in this country in terms of new supporters, new profile and new sponsors.

The success of the tournament should provide for some of that anyway, but we saw with England rugby union team’s World Cup success in 2003 how it can lift to a level beyond comprehension.

England did not deserve to bow out. Even by the Kiwi players’ own admissions, the better team on the day lost.

The home pack, with man-of-the-match Sam Burgess, James Graham, Sean O’Loughlin, Westwood and Hill excelling, was never second best.

Their defensive work was heroic, their footballing ability mesmeric – typified by some of Westwood’s link-up play with full back Sam Tomkins and Kallum Watkins out wide.

And the backline, featuring an impressive display from Gareth Widdop on his first start of the tournament alongside inspired captain Sinfield, looked coherent and threatening throughout.

But most of all, England had heart. They had pride in the shirt, a willingness to die for one another and an air of confidence that all came together to perpetuate belief.

They had character too, sticking together after the Kiwis cancelled out an 8-0 cushion to take their own 14-8 lead during a spell in which McNamara’s men were punished seemingly over the odds by Australian referee Ben Cummins.

Then two smart passes from Sinfield expertly finished off by Sam Burgess and former Latchford Albion junior Watkins put England on the brink of the final, although they were to rue one of the missed conversions by the skipper.

It could have been all over for the defending champions in the 70th minute but for Bryson Goodwin’s hand-thrust dislodging the ball from Westwood’s grasp as he stretched his arm out of a three-man tackle to touch down.

And the final knockout punch remained elusive as England’s top scorer Ryan Hall juggled and then knocked on as he attempted an intercept with 80 metres of clear grass in front of him.

For all their possession, territory and collective ingenuity the Kiwis were being repelled across the field in a race against the clock.

That was until a penalty for George Burgess’ high tackle on Sonny Bill Williams presented a desperate final throw of the dice.

It was then that Johnson had to wait an age for a looping pass to drop from Frank-Paul Nu’uausala and as it did he skilfully bounced away from Sinfield’s lunging arms to inflict unspeakable pain on England and send his own homeland into raptures.

As cool as you like, he slotted the conversion straight down the middle to conclude a battle-royal that will go down as one of the greatest international matches of all time – one never to be forgotten even if we want to!