Rugby League: Fa'afili turns on hat-trick in feisty win

By CHRIS BARCLAY

KIWIS 30 GREAT BRITAIN 16

New Zealand Warriors wing Henry Fa'afili made history and hooker Keiron Cunningham created another serious injury headache for Great Britain as the Kiwis took a huge stride yesterday towards securing a series victory.

The Kiwis fought their way to a compelling victory at Ewood Park in Blackburn in the first of three tests.

Fa'afili became the first Kiwis player to score a hat-trick against Great Britain - in 97 tests stretching back to 1907 - as the tourists remained unbeaten with a near-flawless second-half performance.

Great Britain's chances of taking the series to a decider at Wigan in a fortnight suffered a blow when Cunningham's wretched run of injuries continued as he dislocated his left elbow nine minutes from fulltime.

Cunningham headed for hospital after the match, with coach David Waite saying he was extremely doubtful for Sunday's second test in Huddersfield.

The 26-year-old was one of Great Britain's most impressive players until he fell awkwardly when tackled by Clinton Toopi.

Prop Stuart Fielden left the field dazed - but was later cleared of concussion - after a head clash with his opposite Jerry Seuseu midway through the second spell.

The collision appeared accidental and went unpunished by Australian referee Steven Clark, but there was swift retribution from Sydney Roosters firebrand Adrian Morley, who clattered into Seuseu off the ball when play resumed. It sparked the only flare-up of a physically intense and at times brutal encounter before a crowd of 16,654.

Morley was penalised and placed on report by Clark, but a judicial committee after the match decided to take no further action.

The Kiwis were not spared from injuries, prop Paul Rauhihi and utility David Solomona needing intensive medical treatment so they can back up this weekend.

Rauhihi limped off with a thigh injury in the opening quarter, but had to return briefly as Solomona's fourth test was curtailed when he had difficulty breathing after a heavy blow to the chest in the 26th minute.

Solomona needs x-rays to assess the damage.

Desperate to atone for their 64-10 loss to Australia four months ago, Great Britain dominated all facets in the first spell, where the only highlight for the Kiwis was a wonderful individual try to skipper and man-of-the-match Stacey Jones.

The playmaker negated two Andy Farrell penalties - the second of which registered the Great Britain captain's 100th international point - when he dummied past Cunningham to waltz over untouched by the posts in the 14th minute.

Richard Swain's conversion gave the Kiwis a 6-4 lead, but Great Britain finished the stronger and led 10-6 at halftime.

Farrell goaled when Solomona was penalised after wrestling with Mike Forshaw, then replacement Jamie Peacock and five-eighth Kevin Sinfield combined to put wing Leon Pryce over out wide in the 33rd minute.

However, a dropped ball soon after the resumption gifted the Kiwis a prime attacking opportunity, and the complexion of the match changed within 10 minutes.

Jones, then fullback Robbie Paul, peppered the Great Britain wings with bombs and it was Karl Pratt who faltered when he missed the ball completely, allowing centre Nigel Vagana to touch down in the corner to level the scores in the 44th minute.

Three minutes later a Jones' banana-kick had Pratt slipping up again when Fa'afili snatched a rebound off his luckless opposite to score the first of his treble.

Fa'afili also scored the try of the match, rounding off a scintillating 70m breakout instigated by lock Awen Guttenbeil.

The Warriors loose forward charged upfield and a couple of plays later a deft chip from replacement Logan Swann had Fa'afili again outleaping Pratt to continue the 22-year-old's miserable night.

Fa'afili completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute when he crossed unopposed to polish off a sniping 40m Paul break.

Peacock scored a late consolation to narrow the gap to 24-16, but Vagana had the final say in the dying seconds when Fa'afili turned provider.

Kiwis coach Gary Freeman was delighted with the second-half performance.

"Great Britain stuck it to us and we had to stand up and be counted. We controlled the ball better in the second half."

Waite lamented the opposite.

"If you drop it [the ball] and give the opposition field position and they take advantage of it, momentum swings.

"We had nine sets with the ball in the first 30 minutes of the second half. Time in possession and field position was all with the Kiwis."

Despite Cunningham's woes, Waite was upbeat about squaring the series: "The talk in the dressing room is quite positive."

- NZPA