The New Zealand side were completely dominant, with enough chances to win two or three matches.
But a combination of some incredible English defence - this team just doesn't know when to give up - and some missed chances by the visitors kept the game in the balance until the 77th minute, when Jordan Kahu knocked over a field goal to extend New Zealand's lead beyond a converted try.
The flash point of the match came eight minutes from full time, when the video referee disallowed a James Graham try besides the posts. Referee Gerard Sutton had awarded the try, but the video decision was probably correct, as it appeared Graham had lost control.
In a brand new stadium, this was old style test football. It was a courageous effort from the Kiwis, to retain their self belief after the disappointments of last week and being frustrated on attack for much of the match.
Unlike last week, the New Zealand bench overshadowed their opposites, while Kodi Nikorima and Peta Hiku combined well in the halves.
As has been a hallmark throughout this series, the organisers put on a brilliant pre-match show, including an orchestra, a brass band and a stirring rendition of the last post, ahead of remembrance day here tomorrow.
Though the game was staged far from league's northern heartland, Londoners had responded with over 65 per cent of the 43,000 tickets sold being brought by those in the capital and the outlying provinces.
The marketing tagline for this series here asks England fans to "be the White Wall". Their team took heed in the first half, with a staggering defensive effort to keep the Kiwis try less.
The Kiwis threw everything they had - constantly knocking at the door - but the England line was as fortified as the Tower of London.
Hiku was stopped dead - twice - just short of the line while Kevin Proctor was hauled back centimetres short by some outstanding defence. No matter what the Kiwis tried, England had an answer, even managing to scrag Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at full pace on several occasions.
But the Kiwis also lacked direction. They lacked someone with the ability to see one or two plays ahead, seeing the eventual gap rather than what is just in front of them.
England only threatened in the final moments of the first half, with Lewis Brown stopping Tom Burgess in the shadow of the posts, and Tuivasa-Sheck shutting down two dangerous opportunities.
The Kiwis should have been ahead at the break but made amends minutes into the second half, with Shaun Kenny-Dowall crossing for yet another test try.
Credit will go to Nikorima, who made a half break and freed his arms but it was mostly due to Tohu Harris, who showed the hands of a slips fielder to gather the ball centimetres from the turf and send Kenny-Dowall across.
Almost all of the second half belonged to the visitors. They forced three line drop outs - two in a matter of minutes - and were constantly camped in the English territory. The English defence was magnificent, with Hiku again going closest, losing the ball across the try line in the 65th minute.
Luke missed a 70th minute penalty - handy to the posts - which at that point would have put a tight game out of reach. The home side - and crowd - were noticeably lifted from that point, and it looked like Graham had brought the home side level as he dived on a grubber close to the posts.
Sutton awarded a try - but the video referee found enough doubt - correctly as the ball seemed to escape from Graham's grasp as he dived on it.
The Kiwis should have sealed the game minutes later, only for Nikorima to lose the ball on the try line after a break engineered by Tuivasa-Sheck, before Kahu's crucial late kick.
England 2 (G Widdop goal) New Zealand 9 (S Kenny-Dowall try; J Kahu, I Luke goal, Kahu field goal) Halftime: 2-2
- by Michael Burgess, Herald on Sunday
