Kangaroo whitewash in England

The Kangaroos, underrated before the trip to Great Britain, have made it a clean sweep of the series when they took out the third test today at Alfred McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield. The first time in 17 years an Australian side has been able to do so. Although having already lost the series, the Great Britain Lions had a lot of pride to play for. The game was play in damp conditions which was noticeable throughout the game with a lot of unforced errors handing possession over to the opposition, and played in front of a very one-eyed full house at Alfred McAlpine Stadium who were treated to a very tense game of rugby league. The Great Britain side opened the score in the 7th minute with a penalty goal. The first try of the match came in the 21st minute of the game with Ricketson crossing the line for the Kangaroos. The Lions hit back virtually straight away when Radlinski received the favourable call from the video ref for his try. The score was locked up at 6 all going into the break. The Lions scored the first points of the second half with a great try to Sculthorpe giving the men in white a little sniff of hope. A tussle between the two sides ensued with the defence outstanding. As what seems to be the norm in this series, the Australians equalled in the last few minutes of the game with a try to De Vere, only to go ahead and win with a 2nd try to Ricketson in the last minute of the game. Great Britain can only rue was could have been yet again whereas the Kangaroos showed they play the full eighty minutes and win games. Morley was voted the Man of the Match award, with Kimmorley from Australia being voted as the player of the series.

AEDST (Sydney time): Sunday 23 November 2003, 5:15 AM GMT (UK time): Saturday 22 November 2003, 6:15 PM Alfred McAlpine Stadium (Huddersfield) Referee: Russell Smith

Scorers: GREAT BRITAIN LIONS 12 Tries: Radlinski, Sculthorpe Goals: Deacon 1/2, Long 1/1 defeated by AUSTRALIA KANGAROOS 18 Tries: Ricketson 2, De Vere Goals: Fitzgibbon 3/3

By the clock:

A full house with a very vocal crowd for this the 3rd last test in the Ashes series

0 min: KICK OFF!

2nd min: NEWS - Newton (GB) puts a high shot on Kearns who manages to get to his feet rather gingerly. Newton is on report. Penalty to the Kangaroos

3rd min: NEWS - Australia unable to capitalise on the penalty advantage, a pass from Ricketson to De Vere is snatched away. Play continues down the field

5th min: NEWS - Kearns is off the field with Civoniceva an early replacement

7th min: PENALTY GOAL - Deacon starts the scoring in the 3rd test after Webcke was caught offside in the Lions attack. The Australians definitely well within 10 metres fronm the kicker. Deacon now pass 400 points in 2003

10th min: NEWS - Webcke (Aust) off the field with Waterhouse replacing. Mason has also taken the field early for the Kangaroos

14th min: NEWS - Back to back line dropouts as the Kangaroos are hot on attack

14th min: NEWS - Play breaks down for the Australians as De Vere knocks on. Fitzgibbon gives the Great Britain side as breather as he is penalised in the play off the ball. A bad mistake by Deacon as the ball does not find the sideline. Scrappy play by both sides as the Lions hold onto their 2 point lead

20th min: NEWS - Great Britain have their first decent crack at the try line however the Ausralian defence holds well with no chance for the Lions to score

21st min: TRY - Ricketson for Australia. The Great Britain defence seemingly bunched leaves a huge gap which Ricketson took full advantage of. Great passing by the Kangaroos. Fitzgibbon adds the extra 2 points. Kangaroos 6-2

23rd min: TRY - Radlinski for Great Britain. The Great Britain side hit straight back after a mistake by Willie Mason. Momentum takes Radlinski close to the line and the video ref gives the attacking side the benefit of the doubt. Deacon from the sideline, just misses the conversion. 6-6

33rd min: NEWS - Possession see-sawing between the sides. Both looking for the break, but the defnce is holding true. The score still locked at 6 all

35th min: NEWS - Darren Smith takes the field for Australia, his first appearance for the Kangaroos in 4 years

HALF TIME: 6all at the break. A tight battle for both sides. It will be a great second half with both sides after the win for differing reasons. A whitewash for the Australians, pride for Great Britain

50th min: NEWS - A tough start to the second half by both sides. Great Britain getting the better of the penalty count, now 6-3 in their favour

53rd min: TRY - Sculthorpe for Great Britain. Sustained pressure aided by a penalty and the Lions are over for a 4 pointer courtesy of Sculthorpe. Sean Long adds the 2 points from out in front.

58th min: NEWS - The game starting to open up from both sides

63rd min: NEWS - Lockyer (Aust) caught high by Fielden however play continues with no change to the score, 12-6 to the Lions

67th min: NEWS - Continuous pressure by the Kangaroos on the Great Britain defence but to their credit the defence is holding

69th min: NEWS - A penalty for Australia close to the try line and they take the tap

70th min: NEWS - Great Britain soak up 5 tackles of absolute pressure much to the delight of the crowd

72nd min: NEWS - A mistake by Great Britain sets up another Kangaroos onslaught. Once again the Lions hold on for the 5 tackles and to their 12-6 lead

73rd min: NEWS - Both sides have now used up all their subs

76th min: TRY - De Vere for Australia. Sustained attack by the Kangaroos has finally cracked the tiring Great Britain defence with De Vere scoring out wide. Fitzgibbon from the sideline hits the ball straight down the middle to level the score yet again at 12 all

80th min: TRY - Ricketson for Australia. A bad pass well gathered up by Lockyer sets up very quick play and great offloads. Kimmorley holds up the ball close to the line choosing a supporting player at will to offload to. Ricketson gets the 4 pointer. Fitzgibbon from out in front adds 2 more points. Australia win 18-12

FULL TIME: The team who played the full 80 minutes won the game