Fielden cannot find a way through

There were no surprises in Waite's line-up, with the coach sticking to the same team that won 20-12 in the first Test last Sunday.

If there was one slight shock, then it was the absence of Warrington half-back Lee Briers - a player who has the ability to create a spark on attack.

Britain endured the worst possible start as Andrew Johns found a gap and off-loaded the ball to Robbie Kearns. He fed skipper Fittler for the opening try after just five minutes.

History seemed to be repeating itself - the home side had lost the second Test in the 1990 and 1994 series after having held a 1-0 lead.

After just 15 minutes Australia took a firm grip on the game.

Spilling the ball

It was a try that would rank up there with some of the best scored by Australian sides.

Winger Lote Tuqiri collected the ball, after a poor chip kick from Great Britain captain Andy Farrell, and ran nearly half the length of the field before finding Johns.

He exchanged passes with Lockyer, who went over in the right-hand corner.

The British forwards, led by the likes of Barrie McDermott and Chris Joynt looked weary on the Bolton pitch as the Australians tore their defence apart.

First Broncos full-back Lockyer jinked through to touch down, before winger Braith Anasta took advantage of a poor take by Pryce to take the Australians to 24-0 at the interval.

Kennedy was a handful all evening

Whatever coach Chris Anderson said to his team after their defeat last week was certainly inspirational as Johns added to his tally just two minutes after the restart.

The Australians were playing the ball out to the wings and to the corners in order to avoid Britain's big men in the middle - but Waite's men were helping the Kangaroos by spilling the ball early in possession.

In the 54th minute Australia added further insult to a severe British injury as Newcastle Knights winger Adam MacDougall scored his second try of the series followed shortly by a touchdown from Ben Kennedy.

Britain came back strongly in the final 15 minutes when Sculthorpe made it three tries for the series.

Bradford Bulls star Pryce then demonstrated his devastating skills by storming home from 10 metres out.

But the comeback was never really going to threaten an Australian side, who must now be odds-on for the series.

Great Britain: Radlinski (Wigan); Pryce (Bradford), Connolly (Wigan), Senior (Leeds), Johnson (Wigan); Sculthorpe (St Helens), Sinfield (Leeds); McDermott (Leeds), Forshaw (Bradford), O'Connor (Wigan), Joynt (St Helens), Peacock (Bradford), Farrell (Wigan, capt). Substitutes: Wellens (St Helens), Horne (Hull), Anderson (Bradford), Fielden (Bradford).

Australia: Lockyer (Brisbane), Tuqiri (Brisbane), Lyon (Parramatta), Gidley (Newcastle), MacDougall (Newcastle); Barrett (St George Illawarra), Johns (Newcastle); Kearns (Melbourne), Buderus (Newcastle), Ryles (St George Illawarra), Carlaw (Brisbane), Kennedy (Newcastle), Fittler (Sydney City, capt). Substitutes: Civoniceva (Brisbane), Meyers (Brisbane), Vella (Parramatta), Anasta (Canterbury).

Referee: Bill Harrigan (Australia).