Post by Salem6 on Nov 16, 2003 12:18:17 GMT
By Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport in Hull
Great Britain coach David Waite said his team "blew it" after losing the second Ashes Test 23-20 at the KC Stadium in Hull.
The home team led 20-12 at the break but failed to score in the second half as Australia completed a successful defence of the Ashes following their victory in the first Test.
The Lions could not deal with Kimmorley
And angry Lions chief Waite was critical of his players after the match.
"We had to win and blew it," he said. "You don't have to be a top coach to know that Britain blew that game - can I be any more honest than that?
"We have failed to get the Ashes back and we need to learn to show more composure and need to learn to kill the game off.
"Australia will always come back at you. They have been doing it for 44 years in this country."
Tries from Terry Newton, Kris Radlinski and Gary Connolly had put the Lions in control of the game at half-time.
But the Lions failed to capitalise on their second-half chances and were powerless to stop Australia completing a famous victory.
"Australia aimed for us to shoot ourselves in the foot and we did that," added Waite.
"We had 14 sets in the second half and did not get field position. We are extremely disappointed."
Australia coach Chris Anderson was understandably delighted with the way his players clawed their way back into the match.
The deficit was 12 points before Craig Fitzgibbon scored a try minutes before the break to begin a sequence of 15 points without reply.
"To come from 20-8 behind - the character of my players was tremendous and the young blokes we have brought over here showed tremendous spirit," said Anderson.
"We just hung in there and have come away with a tremendous win."
Australia scrum-half Brett Kimmorley scored two tries and a crucial drop goal to win the man of the match award.
"The amount of faith we have in each other as a football team is tremendous," he said.
"We just ground out a great Test match win.
"We have been together a few weeks but it feels as though we have been a team for a few years."
BBC Sport in Hull
Great Britain coach David Waite said his team "blew it" after losing the second Ashes Test 23-20 at the KC Stadium in Hull.
The home team led 20-12 at the break but failed to score in the second half as Australia completed a successful defence of the Ashes following their victory in the first Test.
The Lions could not deal with Kimmorley
And angry Lions chief Waite was critical of his players after the match.
"We had to win and blew it," he said. "You don't have to be a top coach to know that Britain blew that game - can I be any more honest than that?
"We have failed to get the Ashes back and we need to learn to show more composure and need to learn to kill the game off.
"Australia will always come back at you. They have been doing it for 44 years in this country."
Tries from Terry Newton, Kris Radlinski and Gary Connolly had put the Lions in control of the game at half-time.
But the Lions failed to capitalise on their second-half chances and were powerless to stop Australia completing a famous victory.
"Australia aimed for us to shoot ourselves in the foot and we did that," added Waite.
"We had 14 sets in the second half and did not get field position. We are extremely disappointed."
Australia coach Chris Anderson was understandably delighted with the way his players clawed their way back into the match.
The deficit was 12 points before Craig Fitzgibbon scored a try minutes before the break to begin a sequence of 15 points without reply.
"To come from 20-8 behind - the character of my players was tremendous and the young blokes we have brought over here showed tremendous spirit," said Anderson.
"We just hung in there and have come away with a tremendous win."
Australia scrum-half Brett Kimmorley scored two tries and a crucial drop goal to win the man of the match award.
"The amount of faith we have in each other as a football team is tremendous," he said.
"We just ground out a great Test match win.
"We have been together a few weeks but it feels as though we have been a team for a few years."