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Rugby League

Sculthorpe injury mars GB win

28/06/2006

Great Britain rugby league coach Brian Noble has admitted last night's stunning 46-14 victory over Tri-Nations champions New Zealand was soured somewhat by the injury to skipper Paul Sculthorpe.

The Lions were in scintillating form for the XXXX Test at Knowsley Road but Saints skipper Sculthorpe was forced off after just 20 minutes after suffering a medial ligament problem that could keep him out for up to four weeks.

Noble said of the team's performance: "I'm pleased with it. We made a shaky start but we managed to put some points on them and the players' attitude was exemplary.

"It was a fiery encounter. In days gone by it would have been easy to clock off with 20-25 minutes to go but we didn't, we wanted to finish the game strong."

But he added: "I feel for Paul, he was part and parcel of setting the kind of standards we started off with tonight. The exemplary attitude was led by Paul but he will bounce back."

Noble did reserve praise for two of his debutants in James Graham, who scored two tries, and Ade Gardner, who grabbed one.

"James showed why everyone has high hopes of him and I am absolutely delighted for him," he said.

"I also thought the other lad on debut, Ade Gardner, was very impressive and didn't look out of place."

Leeds stand-off Danny McGuire (two), St Helens star Sean Long (two), and Leeds centre Keith Senior also touched down for GB while Lesley Vainikolo, Wigan's Iafeta Paleaaesina and Henry Fa'afili responded for the tourists.

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