League: GB beat Kangaroos, Kiwis out of Tri-Nations final

9.30am - UPDATE

WIGAN, ENGLAND - Great Britain produced an inspiring defensive effort to end a three year drought against Australia and book a spot in the Tri Nations rugby league final.

They secured a nailbiting 24-12 win over the Kangaroos at Wigan's JJB Stadium this morning NZ time, a result that rules the Kiwis out of the final.

Britain took an 18-6 lead into halftime and spent most of the second half stoutly defending their own line as Australia threw everything at them.

Centre Keith Senior made sure of a heroic victory with a 60 metre intercept try with three minutes remaining to ensure the Lions would meet Australia in the Tri Nations final at Elland Road in two weeks.

Referee Glen Black put an incident on report with two minutes remaining as Craig Fitzgibbon and Paul Sculthorpe traded punches, sparking an all-in brawl.

Australia needed a good start to the second half tonight and the got it through debutant prop Mark O'Meley.

The Bulldogs front rower charged onto a flat pass from Brett Kimmorley in the 45th minute and cruised over under the posts, Fitzgibbon converting to make the gap six points.

Kimmorley and hooker Craig Wing were picking holes in the Australian defence -- but Britain somehow hung on.

Captain Andy Farrell had the chance to give his side a seven-point edge in the 72nd minute but his field goal was wide.

But Senior made sure of the win when he swooped on an errant Scott Hill pass.

The opening half was played at a cracking pace and it was Australia who made the early break through when Luke Rooney continued his remarkable try-scoring run at Test level.

The Kangaroos looked to have gone the wrong direction on the last tackle but Kimmorley reverse kicked and Rooney raced through unchallenged to score his sixth try in only his fourth Test.

But Great Britain got the sell-out crowd back in the match with two tries in three minutes midway through the half.

Hooker Terry Newton scored the first in the 23rd minute, cleaning up a Sculthorpe grubber after some fine work from Senior and Sean Long put the Lions deep in attack

Farrell converted and the score was locked at 6-6.

Three minutes later - in the 26th minute - winger Stuart Reardon produced some deft work to score in the corner, Farrell converting from the sideline to put his side ahead by six points.

Wellens and Newton, outstanding in the opening half, ensured Great Britain maintained its lead with try-saving tackles on Minichiello and Wing.

And with three minutes remaining in the half they went further in front when prop Stuart Fielden finished off a brilliant 60 metre try.

The Lions ran the ball on the last tackle with Long, centre Martin Gleeson, five-eighth Danny McGuire and Newton combining before Fielden stumbled over the line.

Farrell converted and Great Britain led 18-6 at the break.

Great Britain 24 (T Newton S Reardon S Fielden K Senior tries A Farrell 4 goals)

Australia 12 (L Rooney M O'Meley tries C Fitzgibbon 2 goals)

Referee: Glen Black (NZ)

Crowd: 25,004.

- AAP