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Rugby League

Great Britain seal series whitewash

10/11/2007

Great Britain fought off a spirited New Zealand side to record a 28-22 win in Wigan this evening and win the series 3-0.

But it was far from plain-sailing for the home side as they had to comeback from 12-0 down to win the game and claim a series whitewash.

The New Zealand side were hammered 44-0 last week but they showed immense pride and came out with all guns blazing to score to early tries.

On both occasions the Kiwis decided to run the ball on the fifth tackle instead of kicking it and both times their ploy paid off.

First Chase Stanley dived underneath the tackle of Great Britain full-back Paul Wellens to score. Then more fine running and miss-passes from New Zealand led to an overlap on the left-wing and Paul Whaturia touched down. Stand-in kicker Jeremy Smith converted both tries.

Great Britain made five changes from last week's team and they missed the creativity of stand-off Leon Pryce. So it was left to the brute force of forward James Graham to get his team back into the game. The St Helens youngster superbly held off six Kiwi players to cross over.

Graham's try lifted Great Britain and they carved open New Zealand twice in quick succession. The powerful Keith Senior scored a try after good work from man-of-the-match Sean O'Loughlin. Then winger David Hodgson got on the end of a high ball to score and Great Britain found themselves 14-10 ahead.

Great Britain all but sealed the game and the series with two tries at the beginning of the second-half. Man-of-the-series Rob Burrow wriggled himself out of two tackles to score a good individual try.

Leeds dummy-half Danny McGuire then ran almost the length of the pitch to score Great Britain's final try of the night. And although New Zealand scored a try through Taniela Tuiaki, Burrow kicked a late penalty to seal the win for Great Britain.