New Zealand have beaten Great Britain 23-8 in their rugby league Test in Christchurch to secure a 2-0 series win.
After taking last week’s opening encounter 12-8 in Auckland, the Kiwis backed it up on Saturday night with an effort built around solid forward play and tight defence.
Points have been hard to come by in recent weeks for the Lions and their tactics had a rather familiar feel throughout the match.
Their forwards struggled to create momentum through the middle and the halves were forced to kick long on the fifth tackle and they weren’t able to put pressure on the Kiwis.
Great Britain coach Wayne Bennett said his side weren’t clinical enough.
“They played much better than we did,” Bennett said. “It’s probably the best way of summing it up.”
New Zealand’s forwards ran with greater punch and halves Benji Marshall and Shaun Johnson turned the screws on the Lions with a pinpoint long-kicking game.
Johnson, recalled to the team after Kieran Foran suffered a shoulder injury last week, only ran the ball once in the first half but his quick footwork produced a solo try.
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire said he was pleased with Johnson’s return.
“Full credit to him, how he handled that moment in time,” Maguire said. “I’m sure he’s going to learn a lot from that.”
Johnson’s try followed an earlier four-pointer from Sydney Roosters centre Joseph Manu, while Brisbane’s Jamayne Isaako added three penalty goals to keep the scoreboard moving.
Holding a 16-2 lead entering the second half, the Kiwis added another try through winger Ken Maumalo and held on during the final quarter as the Lions mounted plenty of pressure.
“(I’m) just pleased with how the boys prepared themselves and, when they first arrived in camp, they got together and worked really hard at what they wanted to achieve throughout this tour,” Maguire said.
“To see them defend the way they did at the back end, that was obviously a reflection of what we spoke about right from day one.”
A late field goal and another Isaako penalty goal iced the victory.
The result added to a miserable tour for Great Britain who also lost a fortnight ago to a Tongan Invitational XIII.
The Lions will cap off their southern hemisphere tour with a Test against Papua New Guinea next weekend in Port Moresby
deucer
Roar Rookie
What a disaster of a tour - and what a comedown from Lions tours in the past. Not even 9,000 to this game. Hope they retire the Lions brand until they actually have a representation from at least Wales. How much would they have lost from this tour - money that could have been spent on grassroots development.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
The Kiwis were clinical. What is not reported is that the Kiwis had to find replacements for 7 players, many were key. Outstanding effort by Madge to them play so smoothly, especially in the first game v GB when they lost Foran after 6 mins. They will have some WC team, incl SBW.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
You can thank Gerard Sutton's awful refereeing for that rubbish game. Very slow play the ball resulted in a boring game
adam smith
Guest
Wasn’t sure wether I was watching Union or League?! What, with all those penalty goals...
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
"The Lions will cap off their southern hemisphere tour with a Test against Papua New Guinea next weekend in Port Moresby" ...and will most likely get flogged again.
Peter Quinn
That's actually the worst Gt Britain side I've ever seen. The forwards all step around like they are playing five eighth. What ever happened to the old fashioned pin, head down arse up and straight at them. And in defence coming in from the side with a brand new cauliflower ear gift. The whole game of Rugby League is being destroyed. Bring back the heavy duty forwards. If someone doesn't want to play League, so what. Let them go to soccer or wherever. But turning a gladiator sport into a Mary Poppins festival is sacrilege. Perhaps the hiarachy should sack themselves or go get a job with basketball or psychology somewhere.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Wasn't a bad match to watch but the poor old Pommies look very pedestrian and short on talent. Poor old Wayne is getting results in line with his rosters just like his rival coaches did when they were up against his powerful Broncos outfits in the early days. If he was coaching Tonga we would be hearing about his amazing ability as a coach. Coaches are hugely over rated in my opinion.