By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at the City of Manchester Stadium

MATCH SCOREBOARD Great Britain: (8) 8 Tries: Gleeson, Carney Australia: (4) 12 Tries: Mason, Rooney 2

Australia broke British hearts with a last-minute try to book their place in the Tri-Nations final.

Luke Rooney's second try clinched a dramatic victory for the Kangaroos, who fought back from an 8-0 deficit.

Britain led through first-half tries from Martin Gleeson and Brian Carney, before Willie Mason and Rooney levelled it either side of the interval.

Both sides had several attempts at a winning drop goal before Australia created space for Rooney's winner.

Great Britain were expecting Brett Kimmorley to kick a drop goal but the scrum-half played a perfect dummy, fed the ball to Willie Tonga who released Rooney to score in the corner.

All the action as it happened

The television match official was consulted but he adjudged the try to be good, continuing the trend of agonising British defeats to Australia.

Paul Sculthorpe had seen a drop goal attempt deflected under the crossbar, Sean Long was wide with another, Andy Farrell had one charged down and Kimmorley had hit the bar and sent another wide.

It's probably not as heart-breaking as you would imagine Brian Noble GB coach Noble upbeat despite late defeat

But the Australians continued to press and Rooney's fifth try in only his third Test, with 33 seconds left on the clock, snatched a thrilling win.

Great Britain started nervously - Long's first two kicks rebounding off his own players.

And Australia held sway in the opening minutes, Paul Wellens making a vital clearance from a Craig Gower grubber kick to prevent Matt Sing from scoring in the corner.

The Kangaroos had four unanswered sets but GB held out without conceding.

And the home team opened the scoring with a 70-yard break with 13 minutes on the clock.

Gleeson marked his return with the opening try

Peacock broke through the Australian defence after a clever pass from Sculthorpe and burst forward before passing to Terry Newton.

The hooker in turn passed for Gleeson - playing his first match since June - to finish off a spectacular move, though skipper Farrell missed the conversion.

Australia continued to test the GB defence with a series of teasing grubber kicks and Wellens did particularly well to clear from Danny Buderus.

GB showed a real appetite for the match and tried to work clever angled passes as often as possible.

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But clean breaks remained at a premium until a piece of brilliance from Carney after 33 minutes resulted in GB's second try.

The Irishman - back after a hamstring injury - capitalised on poor positional play from Gower and Andrew Ryan to burst through the Australian defensive line.

It was a great game of football - it had everything Wayne Bennett Australia coach Bennett praises British display

Carney ran 50 yards and evaded full-back Anthony Minichiello to touch down in the corner, though Farrell again missed the conversion.

It seemed as though GB would take their 8-0 advantage into the break but giant forward Mason scored in the final minute of the half.

The Canterbury Bulldogs prop burst through Sculthorpe and Gleeson's tackle 20 yards from the line.

Wellens tried to stop Mason on the line but the Australian had too much momentum, though Kimmorley again could not add the two points.

That timely score gave Australia the encouragement they clearly needed and Britain were fortunate not to concede again after 48 minutes.

Jason Ryles feels the force of Adrian Morley's tackling

Winger Matt Sing raced away to the line only for referee Glen Black to blow up early instead of playing advantage.

So it was no surprise when the visitors drew level on 51 minutes, with Rooney finishing off a clever handling move involving Craig Gower and Tonga.

The introduction of Leeds try-scoring sensation Danny McGuire for his GB debut on the hour ought to have been the turning point.

But Britain could not halt the Australians' momentum and remained on the defensive for much of the final quarter.

Australia's win means they are through to the Tri-Nations final on 27 November at Elland Road, Leeds.

Great Britain: Wellens, Carney, Gleeson, Senior, Reardon, Sculthorpe, Long, Fielden, Newton, Morley, Peacock, Farrell, Ellis.
Replacements: Walker, Wild, Bailey, McGuire.

Australia: Minichiello, Rooney, Berrigan, Tonga, Sing, Gower, Kimmorley, Webcke, Buderus, Ryles, Ryan, Hindmarsh, Carroll.
Replacements: Wing, Civoniceva, Mason, Timmins.

Referee: Glen Black (New Zealand)