By Chris Lord
November 8 2005

A second-half fightback from Great Britain came to nothing as New Zealand condemned them to a losing start in the Gillette Tri-Nations Series on Saturday night by 42-26.

 

Tri-Nations Rugby League

Great Britain 26-42 New Zealand GB Tries: Johnson (3), Senior GB Goals: Sinfield (4), Deacon NZ Tries: Webb (2), Vatuvei, Webster, Toopi (2), Rauhihi NZ Goals: Jones (7) Referee: Glenn Black (New Zealand) Attendance: 15,568

 

Paul Johnson claimed a hat-trick as the Lions rallied from a half-time deficit of 24-8 at Loftus Road but the seven-try Kiwis proved too powerful in attack.

Brent Webb and Clinton Toopi scored two tries apiece to give the Kiwis their second win of the competition and put them within touching distance of a place in the final.

Keith Senior was named in the Great Britain side as the Lions entered the Gillette Tri-Nations Series against early tournament leaders New Zealand.

The Leeds centre was passed fit to play at Loftus Road after two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

He took his place in a Great Britain side showing seven changes from the team which started their last international, the 44-4 hammering by Australia in last year’s final.

New captain Jamie Peacock started in the front row with Stuart Fielden and Keiron Cunningham, the latter winning his first cap for three years, with Lee Gilmour and Paul Johnson in the second row.

Sydney Roosters forward Adrian Morley was on the bench for what was the home side’s first match in London for seven years.

Bradford centre Shontayne Hape was left out of the Kiwi 17 with Clinton Toopi, scorer of a hat-trick in game one in Australia, returning from injury.

Stacey Jones, who will join new Super League side Les Catalans next year, lined up at scrum-half for what would be his last game of the tournament.

The game got off to an explosive start with Paul Rauhihi penalised for a flop on Stuart Fielden and the Bradford forward taking exception to the Kiwi’s action.

Fielden was then on the receiving end again as he was upended by David Solomona in a dangerous spear tackle which saw the Wakefield forward placed on report.

Paul Deacon landed a resulting penalty but the Lions were soon behind as the Kiwis’ ran in two tries inside the opening six minutes.

The first came from the restart as Peacock knocked on and Jones moved the ball from the scrum for fullback Brent Webb to slide in.

Winger Manu Vatuvei then cut inside a weak tackle from Brian Carney to add a second close to the corner. Jones converted both and the Kiwis almost had a third when Vatuvei was denied by the video referee.

It then took a fine saving tackle from Fielden to halt Paul Whatuira as the Kiwis threatened again on the break.

Cunningham was held up over the line as Britain pushed to get themselves back into the game and Leon Pryce was also denied a try after a forward pass by Senior.

Things got worse for Britain as Carney knocked on to concede possession and Jake Webster touched down for the Kiwis’ third try.

Jones again converted but Johnson gave Britain some hope when he found a gap in midfield and raced away for a 40-metre try. Kevin Sinfield’s conversion went over off the woodwork.

Yet it failed to spark the home side and they fell further behind when Whatuira sent Webster over for his second. Jones again added the extras.

Britain made the perfect start to the second half to bring themselves back into contention with two converted tries inside seven minutes.

Senior finished the first from close range from a Chev Walker pass and Cunningham then put Johnson in for his second of the night after a driving run by Fielden.

The two goals from Sinfield remarkably brought the Lions back within four points of a Kiwi side that had completely dominated the first half.

But the visitors soon recovered from the shock as they forced a drop-out and Awen Guttenbeil powered forward to present Toopi with his fourth try of the competition.

Jones goaled to make it 30-20 but Britain were not done and threatened a grandstand finish as Johnson twisted over for his hat-trick just before the hour and Sinfield converted.

New Zealand were still causing plenty of problems on the attack and Britain had a narrow escape when Carney just did enough to prevent Vatuvei scoring out wide, albeit after long video deliberation.

Britain pressed again but an opportunity to take the lead was spurned as debutant Rob Burrow dropped the ball close to the line.

New Zealand put the game beyond reach nine minutes from time when Rauhihi took a Jones pass to claim their sixth try.

A seventh followed three minutes later as Toopi claimed his second and Jones maintained his 100% kicking record.