Great Britain
annihilate New Zealand in Huddersfield

Fulltime score: Tri-Nations Game V Great Britain 38 def. New Zealand 12 Match summary: Great Britain have kept their Tri-Nations finals hopes alive with a comprehensive 38-12 victory over New Zealand this morning in Huddersfield.

The Brits opened the game very strongly with tries to Stuart Fielden and Paul Deacon inside the first 15 minutes of the game, to give the side a 12-0 lead early on.

Brian Carney [pictured] made amends for his poor showing at Loftus Road, crossing for two sensational tries in the space of 10 minutes to completely shut the Kiwis out of the game, giving his side an unassailable 24-0 lead late in the first half.

Shontayne Hape was sent to the sin bin right on halftime for a professional foul, and Paul Deacon took the opportunity for the two points, giving his side a comfortable lead of 26 points at the break.

Chev Walker sent shockwaves through both the New Zealand and Australian camps with his try early in the second half, ensuring that the rest of the match would be crucial as to how the final points table would pan out. Walker?s try was converted and Britain had taken a 32-0 lead shortly after halftime.

Jake Webster eased the Kiwis? frustration five minutes later, crossing out wide to close the gap ever so slightly, reducing the lead to 28 points.

Keith Senior extended Great Britain?s lead once again, scoring a controversial try out wide and giving his side a lead of 38-4 with Iestyn Harris adding the extras.

Late tries to both Ali Lauititi and Jake Webster were seen as a consolation in this match, but could prove to be vital when the final is decided by Great Britain and Australia next weekend, Great Britain ended up running out winners 38 to 12.

The fate of the 2005 Tri-Nations tournament is now in the hands of Great Britain and Australia, who will battle it out next weekend in Hull to determine the participants in the final. A number of different scenarios are now possible with every team in with a strong chance of reaching the decider.

The Kiwis had a chance to eliminate Great Britain from the tournament this evening, but failed to take the opportunity and are now sweating on an Australian victory next weekend in order to play in the blockbuster at Leeds in two weeks from now.

Scorers: GREAT BRITAIN LIONS 38 Tries: Carney 2, Fielden, Deacon, Walker, Senior Goals: Deacon 2/2, Harris 5/5 NEW ZEALAND KIWIS 12 Tries: Webster 2, Lauititi Goals: Jones 0/3

Venue: Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield Crowd: 19,232 Referee: Tim Mander (Australia) Half time: Great Britain 26-0

Live commentary: Do or die for Great Britain this evening as they fight for survival against a fired up Kiwi outfit. The Brits need to win this game by a considerable margin to have any hope of playing in the final at Leeds in two weeks time. Galpharm Stadium is the venue for this match, and both sides are 1-17 as-per-program.

Stacey Jones has come out of retirement yet again to play for the Kiwis this evening.

0 min: KICKOFF!, Match underway at Huddersfield

5 min: TRY-Great Britain Stuart Fielden runs onto a bullet-like pass from Hooker Kieron Cunningham to score under the posts. Conversion successful from Paul Deacon. Great Britain 6-0

13 min: NEWS-Still no change to the score and tempers are flaring between Fielden and David Solomona. This game could reach boiling point anytime soon. Great Britain maintaining a 6-point lead.

15 min: TRY-Great Britain Paul Deacon scores to cap off a dream start for Great Britain. Deacon converts his own try. Great Britain 12-0

21 min: NEWS-Try bombed by New Zealand, with Brent Webb losing the ball over the line and Brian Carney goes on the counter-attack with a 25 metre run.

22 min: NEWS-Paul Deacon taken from the field with injury after being hit in a high tackle by Nigel Vagana. Vagana has been placed on report. Still Great Britain leading 12-0.

25 min: TRY-Great Britain Brian Carney races down the sideline to score in the corner. Decision was referred to the video referee with the try awarded. New Zealand failed to find touch close to their own line which gave Great Britain the opportunity, one that they capitalised on. Iestyn Harris converts. Great Britain 18-0

31 min: NEWS-Great Britain were almost in again through Harris, but he could not control the ball over the line. 18-0 the score remains.

34 min: TRY-Great Britain Brian Carney is on fire this evening, he stepped past Brent Webb and ran 70 metres to score for Great Britain. Harris converts. Great Britain 24-0

Carney leaves the field immediately after scoring the try.

36 min: NEWS-Roy Asotasi held-up over the line by Paul Wellens, great defence from the British fullback.

39 min: NEWS-Shontaye Hape sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.

40 min: PENALTY GOAL-Great Britain Harris converts the attempt as a result of the Hape sin-binning. Great Britain 26-0

HALF TIME-Great Britain have found form in a big way this evening at Huddersfield, leading by 26 points to nil at halftime. They are now just 10 points behind Australia on points difference, meaning that the margin of this game is just as important as the outcome.

NEWS-Injury news at halftime:

Brian Carney left the field with a hamstring twinge, he may not be needed in the second half with the big lead that the Brits have amassed.

Paul Deacon will not be back, he has serious facial injuries as a result of the tackle from Vagana, a tackle that Great Britain are far from happy about.

Second half underway in Huddersfield

43 min: TRY-Great Britain Chev Walker scores out wide after displaying some excellent support play off a line break from winger Leon Pryce. Harris lands the conversion from close to the touchline. Great Britain 32-0

48 min: TRY-New Zealand Jake Webster crosses in the corner on the back on the back of some crafty ball movement from the Kiwi halves pairing of Vagana and Jones. Jones misses the conversion attempt. Great Britain 32-4

Hape returns from the sin bin.

52 min: NEWS-Stuart Fielden off injured for Great Britain. Their injury toll is now mounting with Fielden joining Deacon and Carney on the casualty list.

54 min: TRY-Great Britain Keith Senior scores in the corner, after receiving a brilliant offload from Iestyn Harris. Decision went upstairs looking at Senior's feet possibly going over the touchline, but the video referee was satisfied with the try. Harris converts yet again. Great Britain 38-4

58 min: NO TRY-Louis Anderson is disallowed a try by the video referee, the man upstairs ruled that he had lost the ball over the line. 20 metre restart for Great Britain, and they maintain their 38-4 lead.

63 min: NEWS-Paul Wellens has been added to Great Britain's casualty list with a knee problem. This win looks as though it will come at a cost for Great Britain, with Wellens joining Carney, Fielden and Deacon on a growing injury toll.

66 min: NEWS-David Solomona denied a try by the video referee. He was held up short of the line and ordered to play the ball on the first tackle. New Zealand were unable to capitalise on their set of six, coming up with another error. Great Britain still hold a 38-4 lead at the moment.

72 min: TRY-New Zealand Ali Lauititi scores a consolation try for the Kiwis, but it is a very important one in the scheme of things in terms of the importance placed on points-differential at the moment. Conversion attempt is unsuccessful from Stacey Jones. Great Britain 38-8

78 min: TRY-New Zealand Pressure mounting on Great Britain now for next weekend's all-important game against Australia with Jake Webster narrowing the margin ever so slightly for the Kiwis with his second try. Conversion attempt falls under the crossbar from Stacey Jones, his poor effort tonight with the boot could come back to haunt the kiwis next weekend. Great Britain 38-12

FULL TIME: Great Britain have defeated New Zealand by 38 points to 12 this evening at Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield. The win sets up some intriguing scenarios for next weekend's blockbuster between Great Britain and Australia, scenarios that didn't seem possible before this match. A much improved effort by Great Britain and they are now in with a great chance of pulling off a miracle appearance in the final. ----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - S Fielden (Great Britain) 2 - I Harris (Great Britain) 1 - B Carney (Great Britain) -----------------------------------------

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