FIRST ASHES TEST Great Britain 18 (4) Tries: Carney 2, Senior Goals: Long 2, Deacon Australia 22 (8) Tries: Bailey, Waterhouse, Gower, Lockyer Goals: Fitzgibbon 3 Match photos As it happened

Australia drew first blood in the Ashes Test series but they were challenged all the way by the Lions, despite the dramatic sending-off of Adrian Morley for a high tackle in the first minute.

Morley was expected to be an influential figure for Great Britain, but he pole-axed Robbie Kearns with his arm straight from the kick-off and was soon trudging disconsolately off the pitch.

Britain battled manfully throughout the match and were leading with five minutes remaining following Brian Carney's second try of the match.

But seconds later, Craig Wing broke free and passed for Darren Lockyer to touch down and finally break the Lions' resolve.

Morley, who set a record for the fastest ever sending-off Test match, sat on the sidelines with his head in his hands following his dismissal, and he could yet be punished further with a ban from the remaining two Tests.

His early departure looked to have killed off his side's hopes of taking the lead in the series when a sweeping move led to Lockyer sending Phil Bailey over in the corner after 13 minutes.

But Britain refused to lie down and Sean Long and Gary Connolly combined to put Carney in to level the scores with a try on his debut.

The Lions were forced onto the back foot as the tourists began to step up the pressure midway through the first half and only desperate defence denied Australia a more convincing half-time lead.

Kangaroos forward Willie Mason was denied a try by the video referee and it then took a brilliant tackle by Richard Horne to stop Bailey claiming a second in the corner.

Britain went close to scoring themselves after a Paul Sculthorpe break but it was the Aussies who claimed the next try when Darren Lockyer kicked through and debutant Trent Waterhouse touched down.

Nonetheless, the Lions reached the interval just four points shy of Australia, but the tourists might have expected their numerical advantage to tell after the break.

But Britain were, if anything, renewed as they emerged for the second half.

Referee Steve Ganson temporarily evened the sides up five minutes into the second half when he sin-binned substitute Michael Crocker for his involvement in an unseemly scuffle with several other players.

And Britain made his absence tell by snatching the lead after the hitherto faultless Lockyer knocked on in front of the posts.

Carney's second try looked to have won it for the Lions

The home side quickly recycled the ball from the scrum as Sculthorpe fed Keith Senior, and the Leeds centre stretched out an arm to touch down before Long kicked his first extra of the night to put the hosts ahead.

Senior then had the crowd on their feet again with a lightning break but Lockyer just managed to clip his heels, and Kris Radlinski knocked on as he offloaded.

They had to settle for a penalty instead which Long nailed from distance to extend the lead to 12-8.

Britain managed to cling onto their advantage until the 70th minute when Brett Kimmorley combined with wide open half-back partner Craig Gower for a third Australian try.

Craig Fitzgibbon landed the conversion but Britain roared straight back to reclaim the advantage as Carney took a long Sculthorpe pass and managed to squeeze in by the touchline despite the attention of two defenders.

Substitute Paul Deacon took over kicking duties from Long and landed a brilliant conversion to put Britain 18-14 ahead with seven minutes to go.

But it was not to last as world champions Australia pieced together a flowing move which ended with Lockyer sliding behind the posts.

Fitzgibbon converted and then wrapped up victory with a penalty in the final minute.

Great Britain: Radlinski (Wigan); Carney (Wigan), Connolly (Leeds), Senior (Leeds), Horne (Hull); Sculthorpe (St Helens), Long (St Helens); Fielden (Bradford), Newton (Wigan), Morley (Sydney Roosters), Peacock (Bradford), Farrell (Wigan, capt), Forshaw (Bradford). Subs: Anderson (Bradford), McDermott (Leeds), Deacon (Bradford), Gilmour (Bradford).

Australia: Lockyer (Brisbane, capt); Minichiello (Sydney Roosters), Bailey (Cronulla), Wing (Sydney Roosters), Hegarty (Sydney Roosters); Gower (Penrith), Kimmorley (Cronulla); Webcke (Brisbane), Buderus (Newcastle), Kearns (Melbourne), Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), Simpson (Newcastle), Ricketson (Sydney Roosters). Subs: Civoniceva (Brisbane), Waterhouse (Penrith), Mason (Canterbury), Crocker (Sydney Roosters).

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).