GB secure series whitewash - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

GB secure series whitewash

Great Britain duly completed a Gillette Fusion Series whitewash with a 28-22 success - but they were made to work surprisingly hard by a rejuvenated New Zealand side at a wet and windy Wigan.

Playing as Great Britain for the last time on home soil, Tony Smith's men were forced to come from 12-0 down to ensure they finished the series on a high.

A purple patch inspired on his home ground by man of the match Sean O'Loughlin produced three tries in an eight-minute spell just before half-time, and the Lions added two more after the break to maintain Smith's 100 per cent record as Great Britain coach.

A fourth successive win represents the best achievement since the era of Malcolm Reilly and Ellery Hanley in the early Nineties but the paucity of the opposition must be borne in mind when making any comparisons.

The Kiwis side has been decimated by injuries and retirements but at least they salvaged their pride following their 44-0 second-Test humiliation, and they had the satisfaction of watching 18-year-old Chase Stanley mark his Test debut with a brace of tries.

Whether this improvement will be enough to keep Gary Kemble in the job will only be known after next Saturday's Test against France in Paris, where the Kiwis will be aiming to avoid a fifth straight defeat under their new man.

James Graham, Keith Senior, Dave Hodgson, Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire scored GB's tries.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking