League: Kiwis suffer heavy loss to GB

Keith Senior of Great Britain scores a try as Jake Webb fails to tackle. Michael Steele / Getty Images

HUDDERSFIELD, England - The Kiwis blew a golden chance to determine their own Tri-Nations destiny, slumping to a record 38-12 defeat by Great Britain in Huddersfield this morning (NZ time).

The Kiwis began the match needing to avoid defeat by 18 points to book their place in the final but ended it knowing that if Great Britain beat Australia by between two and nine points in Hull next week, they will be on the plane home.

"We just couldn't take a trick," said coach Brian McClennan.

"We are depressed and disappointed ourselves. We feel we have let ourselves and everyone back in New Zealand down. Now we have to sit and watch a game next week and hope and pray like everybody else."

Although they blew a handful of clear scoring chances the Kiwis will rue most a suspect Keith Senior try awarded by video referee Bob Connolly.

The Kiwis were simply abject in the first half, contributing heavily to their own downfall as Great Britain stormed to a 26-0 lead at the interval.

Prop Stuart Fielden's short-range fifth-minute opener came courtesy of back-to-back penalties.

A lack of discipline also led directly to Britain's second when David Kidwell slapped at Paul Johnson on the final tackle.

Halfback Paul Deacon twisted through the wrong-footed Kiwis defence before adding his second conversion to stretch the lead to 12.

Deacon departed shortly after with a serious facial injury inflicted by a Nigel Vagana high shot that ended the halfback's season and landed Vagana on report, but it hardly halted Britain's momentum.

David Solomona almost got the Kiwis on the board when he sliced through on half way and chipped cleverly for the supporting Brent Webb but the fullback lost the ball over the line -- a recurring theme -- under a challenge from opposite number Paul Wellens.

Wellens again saved the day by holding up Roy Asotasi over the line when he seemed certain to score three minutes before the break but by then the Kiwis were already in a huge hole due to winger Brian Carney's impressive double.

Carney endured a miserable outing when the two sides met in London two weeks ago but resembled a different player as he danced down the touchline to score his first before out-pacing Clinton Toopi and sprinting 70 metres for his second.

Things could hardly have got worse for the Kiwis. Or so it seemed. First, Asotasi was held up, then Shontayne Hape was sent to the sin bin for a second tackle on replacement hooker Michael Higham, who had raced 60 metres after seizing on Toopi's fumble close to the British line.

Iestyn Harris kicked the penalty to leave the Kiwis down to 12 men for the first 10 minutes of the second half and needing to peg back eight points to book their place in the final. Chev Walker's try three minutes into the second half condemned that unlikely scenario to wishful thinking.

Jake Webster got the finally got the Kiwis on the board in the 49th-minute with a try in the corner after Stacey Jones had swapped passes with Ruben Wiki but Senior then crossed for a try that could prove ultimately send the Kiwis plummeting out of the tournament.

A large part of Senior's leg looked to be in touch when he grounded the ball but video referee Connolly, who denied Manu Vatuvei two seemingly legitimate tries in London, awarded the try.

"I just hope when he looks at the replays again he might feel like us and be disappointed in himself," said McClennan.

An Ali Lauiti'iti try and a second from Webster gave the scoreline a hint of respectability but Jones was unable to add either conversion, leaving the Kiwis' final hopes hanging by a thread.

Great Britain 38 tries: Carney 2, Senior, Deacon, Fielden, Walker; goals Deacon 2 con, Harris pen, four con
New Zealand 12 tries: Webster 2, Lauiti'iti goals: none (Jones 0/3)

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- NZPA