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| Friday June 24th 2011 |
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| WESTERN AUSTRALIA v BARLA GREAT BRITAIN LIONS MATCH REPORT FROM AUSTRALIA |
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Western Australia .. 28 (12)
BARLA GB Lions .. 20 (10)
Jamie Hobbs at the nib Stadium, Perth
The BARLA Western Australia tourists were so close to reaching their goal of returning back home undefeated in all 4 games but were narrowly defeated in their final game by the WA state team 28-20 on Friday night.
The final game of the tour was the curtain raiser to the South Sydney Rabbitohs v Brisbane Broncoes which went on the road to nib Stadium in Perth for its third consecutive season in support of the WA’s bid for a NRL team in 2013.
The Western Austalia state team which won the state championships on the week of BARLAs arrival named a strong squad from its domestic first grade competition and included 15 players from the 3 teams BARLA defeated en route to the final game. The majority of those 15 players however didn’t feature in any of those warm-up games being able to rest after the state championships.
The WA team came out guns blazing while BARLA looked to be over oared by the occasion in the 20,000 seater stadium filling nicely for the NRL fixture. The hosts opened their account with a penalty conversion from scrum half Rowan Hastings 10 minutes into the 35 minute each way half, the game being cut by 10 minutes due to scheduling problems with the telecaster.
The WA state team looked to be well in control of the game with BARLA looking extremely fatigued in defence from a quick turnaround from Tuesday night’s victory over Fremantle Roosters.
North Beach 5/8 Craig Phillis extended the hosts hold on the game with the first try of the match after a jinking run left the BARLA side flat footed, Hastings added the easy goal.
The elite GB amateurs showed real character to overcome the nightmare 20 minute start and began to make some inroads with ball in hand. Carl Booth, Dave Lowery and Trevor Penrose got over the advantage line and with that field position were able to turn around deeper into the WA half.
With 10 minutes left of the reduced half East Hull stand off opened the BARLA account with an attacking kick through from close quarters, the ball ricocheted of the defence and Puckering collected his own kick before going under the posts to make his own attempt at goal a formality.
Now only 2 points behind the tourists were truly back in the game and found the confidence they’d shown in the previous 3 victories. Ryan Fieldhouse showed the from the Leigh East fullback has enjoyed throughout the tour with several deceiving breaks from his own half.
Only 3 minutes before the interval BARLA took the lead when Shaw Cross wingman and tour top scorer Pat Foulstone finished off a flowing move in the corner to add his 4th try of the tour on the touchline.
BARLA looked to have turned the game in their favour but with just 20 seconds left on the clock WA broke down field. Despite BARLA stopping the primary attack the next play exposed gaps on the edge when Blane Edwards went in at the corner to regain the lead going into the interval 12-10.
To add insult to injury over the last minute score in the first half the next score 3 minutes after the restart further deflated BARLAs hopes of victory. Delane Edwards proved to be a continuous thorn in the tourists side in attack and got over for his second try of the evening. Rowan Hastings adding the extras to go 18-10 up.
BARLA stuck at their task as Kells forward Dave Lowery made a massive impression from the interchange. The tourists got back into the game 10 minutes into the second half when Myton’s Carl Booth continued his hard work breaking down his centre crossing the try line or a much needed score. Carl Puckering added the conversion and his side was back in the game trailing by only two points 18-16.
Just like the first half BARLA couldn’t get a consistent roll on the hosts and were left heart broken when they let the game slip with two quick-fire tries from Delane Edwards and Blake Champion, Hastings converting one of the efforts to propel them to a 12 point lead with 15 minutes left to play.
BARLA to their credit never threw in the towel despite the obvious fatigue from the pace of the game and a 2 day quick turnaround. Seaton Rangers towering second rower managed to give the tourists a glimmer of hope as his outside angled run put him over to reduce the deficit. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful which meant they would need more than a converted try to push for extra time.
With around 8 minutes left to rescue the game the heavens opened with torrential rain which would flood the game for the NRL game following the curtain raiser.
The conditions didn’t help BARLA’s cause with a few handling errors but managed to enjoy some long periods close to the line but WA defended resolutely.
Steve McDermott came close to scoring near the end to setup a grandstand finish. The Halton Simms Cross’ hooker chipped through close the line and collected himself but couldn’t ground cleanly and it wasn’t to be BARLAs dream close to a superb tour.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
1 Tyrone Cranston - North Beach Sea Eagles
2 Jason Godecke - North Beach Sea Eagles
3 Taj Mailata - Fremantle Roosters
4 Josh Benjamin - Kalamunda Bulldogs
5 Billy Coughlan - Fremantle Roosters
6 Craig Phillis - North Beach Sea Eagles
7 Rowen Hastings - Fremantle Roosters
8 Nathan Searle - Joondalip Giants
9 Matt Doeg - North Beach Sea Eagles
10 Jon Phipps - South Perth Lions
11 Rick Williams - North Beach Sea Eagles
12 Delane Edwards (C) Fremantle Roosters
13 Blake Champion - Willagee Bears
Subs
14 Luke Heath - North Beach Sea Eagles
15 Arlin Paki - South Perth Lions
16 Peter Worth - Rockingham Sharks
17 Sam Jacobson - Rockingham Sharks
18 Blane Edwards - Fremantle Roosters
19 Ben McCrone - Fremantle Roosters
20 James Blake - North Beach Sea Eagles
BARLA GB LIONS
1 Ryan Fieldhouse - Leigh East
2 Mike Johnson - Skirlaugh
4 Carl Booth - Myon Warriors
3 Scott Lofthouse - Kells
16 Pat Foulstone - Shaw Cross Sharks
6 Carl Puckering - East Hull
7 Tim Elliott - York Acorn
8 Mick Ledger - Thatto Heath Crusaders
9 Garry Phillips - Wigan St Patricks
10 Trevor Penrose - Skirlaugh
11 Brett Phillips - Seaton Rangers
17 Craig Jeffels - Castleford Lock Lane
13 Jon Paul Brocklebank - Egremont
Subs
14 Stuart Smith - Skirlaugh
19 Steve McDermott - Halton Simms Cross
22 Tom Radley - West Hull
12 Sam Radford - West Hull
15 Lee Fewlass - Myton Warriors
18 Dave Lowery - Kells
23 Mick Randall - Halton Simms Cross
Men of the Match
BARLA : #1 Ryan Fieldhouse
WA : #6 Craig Phillis
Sin Bins: None
GAMEBREAKER : A lapse in concentration just on the half time hooter allowed WA to regain the lead with a try in the corner after BARLA had battled hard to come from behind.
GAMESTAR : #12 Delane Edwards made some breaks through shear stength and determination
Western Australia : Craig Phillis 18’, Blane Edwards 35’, Delane Edwards (38’ 53’), Blake Champion 46’.
Goals : Rowan Hastings 4/7
BARLA GB Lions : Carl Puckering 28’, Pat Foulstone 32’, Carl Booth 43’, Brett Phillips 58’.
Goals : Carl Puckering 2/2, Jon Paul Brocklebank 0/2
Scoring sequence: 2-0, 8-0, 8-6, 8-10, 12-10, HT, 18-10, 18-16, 22-16, 28-16, 28-20.
Penalty count :
GLDO Forced :
Half-time: 12-10
Attendance : 15,371
Steve Manning
BARLA Media Manager
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The British Amateur Rugby League Association.
West Yorkshire House, 4 New North Parade, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. HD1 5JP, England
Tel: 01484 599113, Fax: 01484 510682, info@barla.org.uk |
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