Great Britain Overpower New Zealand
A

Great Britain gained a useful work-out ahead of the Ashes Series with a convincing 52-18 win over New Zealand A, but Kiwi full-back Lusi Sione grabbed the individual honours with a hat-trick of tries.

Kris Radlinski - who led Britain in the absence of Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe - matched his opposite number by scoring three of his side's eight tries on a night of mixed fortunes in their only warm-up match for the serious business with Australia.

Ryan Hudson and Gareth Ellis both marked their Great Britain debuts with first-half touchdowns, but another newcomer, Warrington prop Paul Wood, could be struggling to make the first Test after damaging his shoulder.

But the win came at a cost. Star forward Adrian Morley, making a return to his old Leeds stamping ground after a three-year absence, came off after 29 minutes with what was described as a slight "dead leg", while Wood joined Morley on the sidelines after falling awkwardly in a tackle 10 minutes into the second half.

New Zealand A, who lost to a National League Two team a week earlier, were not expected to put up much of a fight, but 28-year-old Sione ensured Britain did not have things all their own way. He struck twice in the first half, taking centre Hala Vaa'sa's pass to touch down on 23 minutes and nine minutes later raced onto skipper Gavin Bailey's slide-rule kick to claim a second try.

Sione then completed his hat-trick on 53 minutes following another pinpoint kick from stand-off Bailey as the Kiwis provided some stiff opposition.

Radlinski had scored the game's first try on nine minutes when he took Sean Long's pinpoint pass and scythed through the Kiwi defence. Then Ellis, chosen out of position in the second row, showed the pace and guile he normally displays at centre to cut through for Britain's second try, and Hudson finished off a break by loose forward Lee Gilmour to touch down.

Centre Keith Senior scored a fourth try for Britain just before the break after Long and Paul Deacon worked a set-piece move from the base of a scrum, Long's fourth successful goal making it 24-12.

The introduction of Wigan hooker Terry Newton at the start of the second half immediately injected new life into the home side's attack. He broke away from dummy half to get fellow substitute Paul Anderson crashing over for a try and the big Bradford prop then turned provider with a sweet final pass for Kevin Sinfield to score on his home ground.

Sione's third try made it 34-18, but Britain finished in total command, with Sinfield and Long carving out a second try for Radlinksi with the best move of the match. Then Senior sent winger David Hodgson over and Radlinski demonstrated classic support play to complete his hat-trick, with Sinfield kicking his third goal.