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Rugby League

Lions hammer New Zealand

03/11/2007

Great Britain destroyed New Zealand 44-0 this evening at the KC Stadium in Hull to claim their first series win in 14 years.

The home side overpowered a sluggish Kiwi side to score eight tries and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final fixture taking place next Saturday.

Captain Jamie Peacock started the try-fest as he bulldozed his way past five New Zealand players to cross the try-line after just two minutes. Kevin Sinfield, who missed the first Test due to food poisoning, added the two points.

Inspirational stand-off Leon Pryce brilliantly sidestepped two Kiwi defenders to score his first international try in five years and helped extend his team's lead to 14-0 as Sinfield added the extras.

Great Britain should have scored a third try when a Clinton Toopi error saw the ball fall to winger Gareth Raynor, but the Hull player dropped the ball as he stretched for the line. But he made no mistake two minutes later as he got on the end of a powerful run by Sam Burgess to score the try.

Rob Burrow, who took over kicking duty as Sinfield took a break, missed the conversion as Great Britain went in 16-0 ahead.

It was one-way traffic in the second half as the New Zealand forwards were pummeled by the Great Britain trio of Adrian Morley, Burgess and Peacock, which allowed creative players to run riot.

The first of five second-half tries came through Paul Wellens who got on to the end of a high hanging kick from Pryce. The returning Sinfield added the two points.

The New Zealand players looked completely shattered in the second half and Great Britain looked like they could score at will. They scored four further tries through Ade Gardner, Keith Senior, Burrow and a second try from Pryce.