England's summer tour ends with defeat to New Zealand Maori

New Zealand Maori 35-28 England

New Zealand Maori's Liam Messam, right, clashes with England's Danny Care in Napier. Photograph: Ross Setford/AP

England's five-match tour ended with defeat to the New Zealand Maori after an enthralling clash in Napier.

Martin Johnson's men dominated the first half and led 28-17 at the interval with tries from Steffon Armitage, Danny Care and Chris Ashton plus 12 points from the boot of Charlie Hodgson.

But the Maori had already served notice of their intent by hitting back from 13-0 down to take the lead with two brilliant tries from Hosea Gear and captain Liam Messam. And Gear completed his hat-trick as the hosts kept England scoreless in the second half to celebrate their centenary with another famous victory. The Maori beat England in 1998, the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and they overhauled Ireland in Rotorua last Friday.

England arrived in Napier on a high after their famous 21-20 victory over Australia in Sydney sealed a 1-1 Test series draw with the Wallabies. Johnson had branded this clash as the unofficial third Test and England made a fast start, playing expansive rugby from the outset with Delon Armitage to the fore.

England's early dominance was rewarded with a Hodgson penalty and then a try from Steffon Armitage as the tourists surged ahead. Hodgson stabbed a grubber kick in behind the Maori defensive line and the Northampton winger Ashton showed brilliant footballing skills to flick the ball back into play with his right foot just before it landed in touch. Steffon Armitage was already on the charge and the London Irish flanker dived on the loose ball to give England a 10-0 lead, with Hodgson landing the touchline conversion.

Hodgson slotted a second penalty as England succeeded where they had failed against the Australian Barbarians, by turning early pressure into points. But the Maori then turned the tables spectacularly with two brilliant counter-attacking tries.

McAlister got the Maori onto the scoreboard with a penalty but Hodgson wasted the chance of an immediate response by hitting the post. Maori full-back Robbie Robinson countered from the rebound and quickly left England's defence in disarray before fly-half Stephen Brett released Gear, who swatted David Strettle and Mathew Tait aside to score.

Maori scrum-half Aaron Smith then pilfered the ball from the back of an England scrum and launched another incisive break, with Brett drawing in three defenders before releasing Messam. Hodgson tracked back to make the tackle but the Sale fly-half could not drag Messam into touch. The try was given and McAlister's conversion edged the Maori into a 17-13 lead.

England were under pressure at the breakdown but returned to their point of strength in the scrum to win a kickable penalty and get back into the game. The tourists then scored twice in the last minute before half-time to storm back into the lead.

When Referee Craig Joubert awarded England a penalty at the ruck, Care spotted the opportunity to exploit a disorganised Maori defence, took the quick tap and beat lock Jarrad Hoeata to score. The Maori sought a response but Hodgson intercepted a pass from McAlister on halfway and sent Ashton over for the try.

England had dominated the breakdown and the tackle count in the first half but their lead was tentative – and within eight minutes of the restart it had been scrubbed out. Tait and Brad Barritt both fell off McAlister and when the ball was spread wide, Gear charged through a gaping hole in the England defence to score his second try.

The Maori then pounced again after another mistake at the breakdown and the ball was spread left to Gear, who capitalised on a major overlap to complete his hat-trick.

McAlister converted both tries to edge the Maori into a 29-28 lead after 48 minutes.

England's pack remained on top but Delon Armitage missed their only penalty shot of the second half with a skewed effort from long range.

The Maori closed out the game with two penalties from replacement Willie Ripia, which left England requiring a converted try to win – and they blew two golden chances.

Geraghty's attempted kick for touch went dead and when Ben Foden launched a searing break, he chose to chip ahead instead of passing to Armitage and the ball again slid over the dead ball line.