In the final game of the Unison Tour of the South Pacific 2009 The BARLA Great Britain Lions went down to their fourth consecutive defeat of their five match tour as the twelve man Vodafone Fiji Bati held on for another close win to record a 2-0 Test Series win.

Again it was a case of so near yet so far, as the Lions took an 8-0 lead only to be hit by three converted tries in a six minute period to lead 18-8 win which they stretched to 24-8 following a second interception try.

The Lions came battling back through a genuine hat-trick by Scott Lofthouse (Kells) who put in a man of the match performance and was later named as the Ravensport International Player of the Tour. The Lions twice got within four points of Fiji but with the crowd screaming for the whistle the Lions once again ran out of time.

The record for the tour will show one win four losses but such has been the margins of defeat that they have only lost by an aggregate of fourteen points having lost three games (including this game) by four points and one by two points. But the Lions squad, the youngest ever Open Age Squad with an average of twenty three can be proud of their efforts and will learn from their experience overseas.

Ironically the Lions have helped immensely with their continuing development work on this tour which is a sad enditement of the Southern Hemisphere giants Australia and New Zealand who have never sent a representative side to Tonga, Samoa or Fiji.

The Lions suffered a late pre match injury to Sam Radford (West Hull), and Dean Balmer (Leigh Miners Rangers) was drafted in and in the opening ten seconds of the game stand off Lee Gudor (Siddal) who had recovered from a dead leg to his right leg suffered the same injury again following his tackle but this time to his left.

He battled on until the 24th minute when he had to be replaced and was unable to return to the field which proved a costly blow to the side. Up to that period both he and the side had played brilliantly as they gained the momentum with several of his well placed kicks and the forwards dominated territory and possession as a result . If being critical the side should have had a bigger lead that there play deserved but credit the Fiji defence.

The Lions took a fourth minute lead following a Jamie Dallimore (Wigan St Cuthberts) after a high hit on forward Tony Suffolk (Wigan St Patricks) on the fifth tackle.

On the next attack a Gudor 40/20 set the Lions up and winger Danny Moss (Skirlaugh) narrowly failed to get to Gudors chip on the last tackle. On 12 minutes he put a grubber in forcing a Fiji drop out but they held out.

The Lions then got the try they deserved on 17 minutes as they made a break down the short side 40 meters out started by Suffolk.. He made great yards before passing outside to Leon Brennan (Leigh Miners Rangers) whose inside pass found Lofthouse who cut inside, through a gap to score by the posts. Dallimore added the extras but could do the same with a penalty attempt from the halfway line seven minutes later.

Appearing in complete disarray Fiji failed to find touch with a penalty that Brennan rose high to take but the Lions then gave away a penalty on 27th minutes and all of a sudden Fiji clicked big time and Lions didn’t touch the ball for nearly ten minutes.

Fiji ran the ball half backs Epeli Soro and Kaliova Tani moved the ball quickly down the right flank before releasing it to Josateki Ravueta and with a sudden surge of speed went 70 meters down the wing before cutting in to score under the posts and Nemani Suguturaga added the first of his four goals to get the score back to 8-6.

On their next attack Fiji attacked down the same side causing panic in the Lions ranks and they somehow managed to keep the ball alive before skipper Iowane Divaves went in for a six pointer and they showed their handling skills again on 33 minutes to go downfield and saw Tani drive over from close range for a converted try. Fiji were in complete control and led by ten points at the break.

The opening ten minutes was scrappy by both sides but following a Lions penalty on 51 minutes they were on the attack trying to claw their way. It looked that way as Dallimore found hooker Stephen Illingworth (West Bowling) but his long cut out pass was intercepted by Tani who went 80 meters under the post.

The Lions were struggling at this stage and the Fiji forwards began to control the game putting some huge hits in to ruffle the Lions and also resulting in conceding a number of penalties. The referees patients was up as the Lions attacked the Fiji line and on 62 minutes and Etika Rokobuli was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul. From the penalty Dallimore and Ryan Fieldhouse combined for Lofthouse’s second and a Dallimore touchline conversion.

The Lions sensed something and went for it and Fiji then went down to eleven men on 67 minutes after hooker Jope Tuivanuavou felled Lions skipper Lee Maskill (Sharlston Rovers) with a poor high shot.

The Lions attacked continuously and brought it back to four points on 73 minutes as Dallimore and Brennan fed Lofthouse for his treble. On the next set Illingworth chipped over the Fiji defence Dallimore chased the kick but Fiji appeared to knock on but got the ball back.

Three minutes later Fiji counter attacked and went 30-20 following a superb break down the middle and as the Lions tried to get back into line Seruvi Ralulu drove over by the posts and Malakai Tuiloa added the extras.

The Lions went for the short kick off and Brennan again leapt high for the ball and as they attacked Sean Foster (Wigan St Cuthberts) made a superb thirty meter break. He appeared to be wrapped up by three Fiji defenders but he somehow offloaded to Fieldhouse who delightfully skipped over to make it 30-26.

The Lions ran the ball from the restart but Fiji’s just held firm once again leaving the Lions devastated against a Fiji side containing seven players from last years World Cup squad and including three who played in the tournament.

FIJI BATI: 1. Etuate Tagicakibau, 2. Esira Dokoni, 3. Josateki Ravueta, 4. Jone Wesele, 5. Jovilisi Tawake, 6. Kaliova Tani, 7. Epeli Soro, 8. Iowane Divavesi (Capt), 9. JopeTuivanuavou, 10. Timoci Yauvoli, 11. Rusiate Loloma, 12. Josua Koroibulu, 13. Eliki Ledua, 14. Malakai Tuiloa, 15. Viliame Tukano, 16. Apakuki Mata, 17. Asaeli Saravaki, 18. Seruvi Ralulu, 19. Etika Rokobuli, 20. Nemani Suguturaga.

Tries: Tani 2,Ravueta, Divaves, Ralulu
Goals: Suguturaga 4, Tuiloa

BARLA GB LIONS : 1. Ryan Fieldhouse(Leigh East), 2. Danny Moss (Skirlaugh), 3. Lee Maskill (Sharlston Rovers), 4. Scott Lofthouse (Kells), 5. Leon Brennan (Leigh Miners Rangers), 6. Lee Gudor (Siddal), 7. Jamie Dallimore (Wigan St Cuthberts), 8. Richard Farrer (Egremont Rangers), 9. Stephen Illingworth (West Bowling), 10. Aaron Bradley (Hull Dockers), 11. Sean Foster (Wigan St Cuthberts), 12 Tony Suffolk (Wigan St Patricks), 13. Tom Hill (York Acorn). Substitutes: 14. Brett Waller (Skirlaugh), 15. Aaron Fewlass (Myton Warriors), 16. Sam Radford (West Hull), 17. James Craven (Thornhill Trojans), 18. Ben Kendall (Thornhill Trojans), 19. Gary Phillips (Wigan St Patricks), 20. Luke Varley (Castleford Panthers).

Tries: Lofthouse 3, Fieldhouse
Goals: Dallimore 5

Half-Time: 8 - 4
Referee: Laurence McDonnell (NSW, Australia)
Attendance: Est 5,000
Weather: Dull & Humid

BARLA Great Britain Lions Head Coach John Fieldhouse,

“I’m in a state of shock at the moment and I was thinking that we were going to win that game but from looking very composed and in control leading 8-0 we just shot ourselves in the foot again. We couldn’t defend on our right hand side and Fiji scored three tries from three sets.

“We talked about it at the break got them back into place and into shape with a few positional changes and as we are on the attack they intercept and it’s 24-8. I was thinking we’ll finish the game out but all of a sudden the boys decided to play rugby and began sticking to the game plan again as we did for the opening twenty five minutes, completing our sets varied kicking game and the side were hungry for it.

“We got so near yet so far, five games one victory, four defeats but for a total of fourteen points. I think we would have probably settled for that if someone had said that at the beginning of the tour of the South Pacific. To not get that second victory is heartbreaking and all the lads are really really upset with tears in their eyes.

“I’m gutted for them as well as myself and I think we deserved a second victory on the back of those two performances against the Fiji Bati. We have got better and better as the tour as gone on playing some outstanding rugby league .

“The only thing that has beaten us is experience we haven’t got enough experience in the team to do the right things at the right time when you get a lead and then control the game and finish it off. I’ll take this as a learning curve with twenty one of the twenty eight squad under 24 yrs of age so i have got a lot to work with and a lot of building to do and as long as these guys are willing to work I’ll work twice as hard with them.

“Scott Lofthouse has had a great tour and worked hard in all his games and finished as top try scorer. He has given everything and thoroughly deserves to have been named as the Ravensport International Player of the Tour.”

BARLA Great Britain Lions International Manager Mick Turner

“I’m dissapointed to lose the game after another fantastic spectacle of rugby league and its been fantastic for the development of the game in Fiji. This tour has done really well for the developing nations in the South Pacific although its a big shame that the lads once again didn’t get the win their efforts deserved. I take my hat off to the whole squad they have played so well throughout the tour.

“We had a ten minute period when Fiji came out strong and we found ourselves playing catch up after controlling the game. We were unlucky not to score at the end and don’t deserve one win and four defeats at the end of this tour but we saved our best performance for the last game and it is very hard to take.

“Scott Lofthouse scored a hat-trick today and has seen superb throughout the tour and has seen
named as the Ravensport International Player of the Tour.”

Ravensport International Player of the Tour Scott Lofthouse
“We just had a bad ten minutes in the game really when we conceded those three tries really when we led 8-0. But we came back and showed what a good side we are but it wasn’t enough.

“I scored the hat-trick and was in the right place at the right time but I would have preferred to win the game than score the hat-trick it doesn’t mean anything when you lose. Later on I may reflect on it but we deserved more as a team

“I’m pleased to have won the award but I didn’t think about it as we set out on the tour three weeks ago. It’s all about the team and I don’t think the results reflect how we have played and what we have achieved on this tour. It’s been a fantastic journey and experience for all of us.”

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The Squad: 1. Ryan Fieldhouse (Leigh East), 2.Danny Moss (Skirlaugh), 3.Lee Maskill (Sharlston Rovers), 4. Scott Lofthouse (Kells), 5. Leon Brennan (Leigh Miners Rangers), 6. Lee Gudor (Siddal), 7. Jamie Dallimore (Wigan St Cuthberts), 8. Richard Farrer (Egremont Rangers), 9. Stephen Illingworth (West Bowling), 10. Aaron Bradley (Hull Dockers), 11. Sean Foster (Wigan St Cuthberts), 12 Tony Suffolk (Wigan St Patricks), 13. Tom Hill (York Acorn). Substitutes: 14. Brett Waller (Skirlaugh), 15. Aaron Fewlass (Myton Warriors), 16. Sam Radford (West Hull), 17. James Craven (Thornhill Trojans), 18. Ben Kendall (Thornhill Trojans), 19. Gary Phillips (Wigan St Patricks), 20. Luke Varley (Castleford Panthers).

The Squad: 1. Etuate Tagicakibau, 2. Esira Dokoni, 3. Josateki Ravueta, 4. Jone Wesele, 5. Jovilisi Tawake, 6. Kaliova Tani, 7. Epeli Soro, 8. Iowane Divavesi (Capt), 9. JopeTuivanuavou, 10. Timoci Yauvoli, 11. Rusiate Loloma, 12. Josua Koroibulu, 13. Eliki Ledua, 14. Malakai Tuiloa, 15. Viliame Tukano, 16. Apakuki Mata, 17. Asaeli Saravaki, 18. Seruvi Ralulu, 19. Etika Rokobuli, 20. Nemani Suguturaga.

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