The British Police faced Fiji in their final pool game at Stockland Park, Kawana. Although progression into the final of the World Cup was a mathematical possibility the British side faced an impossible task. The surprise team of the tournament have been Fiji. After losing to New Zealand by the smallest of margins, Fiji have been dispatching teams with the greatest of ease. The British squad again had to make changes to the playing squad through injury. It was hoped Michael Kearns would make a speedy recovery from his hip injury, however this looked to be taking longer than predicted, so Darrell Rotherham came into the squad. The Fijians combine great physical presence, both in attack and defence, with the confidence and skill to continually off load the ball. The British side were happy to see typical British weather as it poured down before the game, hoping it might dampen the Fijian flare.
 
The Fijians kicked off the game and an error by the British side meant the ball wasn't fielded giving the attacking scrum straight to the opposition. Fiji made their intentions clear early on, using the large men Jim Patrick and Neori Buli to batter forward drawing in several British tacklers to drag them down. Good British defence kept them out and they worked the ball out well. Jamie Brentley making a good break with dancing feet winning a Fijian penalty. Fiji were looking dangerous when they had the ball, making several half breaks and jinking runs. The British were coping well but the trouble was Fiji looked dangerous from any field position. The Fijians broke from deep within their half ,Jock Luita with an arching run wriggling through several tackles to score under the posts: 6-0. Once Fiji had breached the British lines, they did so twice more in quick succession. A missed tackle in the midfield and Tikiko Uluiviti crossed the line. Immediately followed by another, a powerful run and off load to big Jim Patrick who crashed over the line taking Phillip Green with him as he did so. 18-0. A nice run from Kieron Maddocks linking in with Philip Green, who chipped ahead, put the British Police in a good field position. The Fijians tried to slow the play of the ball to get their numbers back on side. This was seen by the referee who penalised the Fijians and the British punished the mistake. A clever grubber kick by Adam Newton was dived upon by Darrell Rotherham for the first British score of the day: 18-4. This try seemingly rejuvenated the British Police who had possibly their best period of play. A good drive by Nicholas Smart combined nicely with a powerful run on a good angle by Philip Green. The following chip kick by Jamie Brentley forced wide and the Fijian catcher was dragged over the touch line. The British squandered a scoring opportunity out wide as the slippy ball was knocked on. The half time hooter sounded the score remaining 18-4.
 
The Fijians came out from the half time break firing on all cylinders. A quick tap penalty, by the danger man, Jock Luita who somehow managed to wriggle his way out of several British tacklers, making good yards. Then Jim Patrick drew in too many defenders and threw a deft pass to Onisuko Veidreyaki who scored. 22-4: This was followed by another Fijian score as they began to show their good balls skill in the wet. They moved the ball down the line well making use of an overlap and Penai Vakaruru crossed the line 26-4. The British Police kept on pushing, a quick tap penalty by Adam Newton released Matt Dunn who was held up over the line. A promising field position was given away cheaply as a long pass by Adam Newton was intercepted, the following break by Saiyasi Nikola released Tikiko Uluiviti who lost the ball forward as he set himself up for a showboating dive. Some good defence by Darrell Rotherham and Thomas Dyson was not sufficient to stop the rampaging Fijians. Jock Luita again making a break, this time from dummy half releasing Jonacani Erenauanua: 30-4. The tackling continued, Jamie Dixon winning a knock on and Richard Whitehouse with a try saving tackle. The pressure was too much for the British side as Saiyasi Nikola squeezed over for a try: 38-4. In the next attack by the Fijians Adam Fogerty managed to re-gather the chip kick and break the defensive line. He looked for support which arrived in the form of Matt Dunn, who pinned his ears back showing good pace to out run the defenders. Finishing the game on a positive note for the British Police: Final score 38-8.
 
The British side will now face the Australians in the third place play off. It will be a true test for the British Police. Beating the Australians in their own back yard, with the typically partisan crowd is no easy task. The Australians will be going into the game as favorites but the British will be keen to put the record straight.
 
The next game for the British Police is third place play off against the Australians. Friday 14th November at 7.30pm at Stockland Park, Kawana.
 
British Police
1 Chris Cowling, 2 Matt Dunn, 3 Philip Green, 4 Chris Sheffield, 5 Jamie Brentley, 6 Adam Newton, 7 Kieron Maddocks, 8 Stuart Meeks, 9 Thomas Dyson, 10 Rasheed Alawiye, 11 Darrell Rotherham, 12 Adam Fogarty, 13 Daniel Atherton, 14 Nicholas Smart, 15 Mark Elvidge, 16 Richard Whitehouse, 17 Jamie Dixon.
 

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5
    

Following a horrendous flight from Sydney to Marochydore, where the first attempt at landing was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. The British Police were hoping for a smoother landing into the Police World Cup. Although, lots of people ended up gripping their seats in a nail biting game. Jon Hamer and Mark Robinson had tough decisions to make about the final squad and first team selection following the previous impressive performance against New South Wales Police. The side were hoping for slightly cooler weather conditions in Stockland Park, Kawana. However, on the morning of the game the tropical storm had cleared leaving blue skies and blistering mid day heat as the British Police kicked off their World Cup campaign against Papa New Guinea.
 
Both sides began the game confidently and tested each other defences with PNG coming out the best from the early exchanges. Taking the lead after five minutes scoring from a penalty following a high tackle close to the posts. British Police had a good re-start as Adam Fogarty regained Adam Newtons hanging kick. PNG gave away a penalty allowing Adam Newton to level the scores. A good burst from Daniel Adams placed Adam Newton in a good position to kick a cracking 40-20 giving the British Police a strong attacking position. Daniel Burton made a powerful burst and Steven Brown capailtalised on this position with a jinking run down the middle of the pitch. Adam Newton converted on the 10 minute mark taking the score to 8-2. The British Police continued to pressure with a god power set from the re-start involving strong drives from Andrew Eastham and a clever kick from Adam Newton which he re-gathered. The attack was curtailed by the first water break due to the searing heat. The PNG team returned to the action fired up, slightly too fired up as the touch judge had to intervene following a series of high tackles and swinging arms. The British side began to move the ball about with greater confidence and matched this attack with strong defence. A loose pass from the British Police allowed PNG to break away and score with a valiant attempt By Adam Fogerty to chase back. PNG missed the conversion, making the score 8-6 on the twenty minute mark. The British side entered a good period of sustained pressure. Resolute tackling by Andy Woodhead and Andrew Eastham causing PNG to make several errors. A good run by Daniel Adams who was held up over the line and a clever grubber kick by Jamie Dixon forced PNG to face a repeat set. A strong drive from Peter Sutcliffe forced his way over the line as the British pressure began to show. The try was unconverted taking the score to 12-6 with 5 minutes of the first half remaining. A sloppy penalty from the British side allowed PNG a shot at goal which they missed which marked the half time buzzer.
 
The GB side returned from the half time break rejuvenated with strong drives from Andy Woodhead and Rasheed Alawiye set up another jinking run from Steven Brown who released Andy Eastham to power his way over the line in the corner. The tough conversion was just missed by Adam Newton giving the British Police a 16-6 lead. Another period of British pressure was broken by a loose pass close to the PNG try line which was intercepted and PNG raced to the line. A good conversion from out wide scrapped over the cross bar taking the score to 16-12. PNG had renewed belief after the interception try and an elusive run from their half back was stopped just short of the line by a magnificent effort by Richard Whitehouse. However PNG scored on the next play with a powerful drive over the line. PNG missed the opportunity to go into the lead as the conversion sailed wide 16-16. PNG were pressing ahead and the drinks break came as a welcome relief to the British side so they could catch their breath. A nail biting fifteen minutes of high intensity football with crunching tackles from both sides began. It was broken by a smart spinning run by Peter Sutcliffe followed by some crisp inter passing amongst the forwards forced PNG to give away a penalty. Adam Newton stepped up to give the British side the lead 18-16 with eight minutes left on the clock. Both sides played well with PNG showing some great offloads in the tackle. The charge down of a British kick by PNG had the spectators on the edge of their seats. Fortunately the alert referee had spotted a knock-on as PNG were racing towards the line. The British side gave away a penalty in the last 45 seconds of play out of kicking distance but providing a nail biting final set close to the try line. The final score of the bruising encounter was 18-16.
 
Coaches Jon Hamer and Mark Robbinson will be hoping that all the British players recover quickly from this physical encounter in a searing heat. So they can begin the preparation to face the Australians on Saturday 8th at 3pm Stockland Park.
 
 

British Police:

Adam Foggerty, Steven Brown, Daniel Adams, Andrew Eastham, Adam Newton, Nicholas Smart, Peter Sutcliffe, Andrew Woodhead, Christopher Cowling, Daniel Burton, Richard Whitehouse, Philip Green, Paul McMillan, Christopher Sheffield, Mark Elvidge, Jamie Dixon, Rasheed Alawiye.

The first game in the British Police Rugby league teams tour of Australia has caused the coaches Jon Hamer and Mark Robinson a real headache in the selection of the final squad for the Police World Cup. The game was played against a New South Wales Police side at the Concord Oval in Sydney and was a classic tale of two halves. The British Police began strongly completing their early sets and were camped close to the NSW try line. However, the British nerves began to show with some basic errors which the Australians were quick to capitalise upon with their fullback crossing the line wide out. The try was successfully converted to take the score to 6-0. Paul McMillan showed his strength in the air to re-capture the restart but again a series of penalties allowed NSW to march down the field. A fantastic tackle on the try line by Chris Cowling was not enough to stop the Australians going through for their second score. The conversion was missed taking the score to 10-0. Some powerful runs by Mark Elvidge and Paul McMillan complemented by the plentiful tackling of Rasheed Alawiye settled the British side but again the Australians struck back with an unconverted try following a well worked move down the left side, giving the Australians a 14 point unanswered lead. A scrappy period of play followed, with errors from both sides but a skillful kick by Steven Brown allowed Paul McMillan to show his aerial strength to get the first points on the board for the British side. Adam Newton successfully completed the conversion, 14-6. The Australians retaliated swiftly with a score after a missed tackle out wide. The half time whistle came as a relief to the British side who went in at the break 18-6.

The half time talk by Jon Hamer and Mark Robbinson made an influence in the second half after the British side had got over their initial nerves and settled into their flowing style of play. Steven Brown was held up over the line and Richard Whitehouse was just unable to reach a clever kick by Adam Newton, forcing a repeat set. Some aggressive defense by Paul McMillan and Peter Sutcliffe forced yet another repeat set as the mounting pressure finally resulted in a second score as Paul McMillan burst through two tackles to score under the posts converted again by Adam Newton, taking the score 18-12. The British side kept up the pressure completing all their sets with Adam Newton being held up over the line on the fifth tackle. The Australians made a nice break, up the middle, with a clever chip kick which was well gathered by Richard Whitehouse. The British side were reacted immediately and a beautifully timed pass from Daniel Burton found Steven Brown running a nice line to score under the post. Giving a simple conversion for Adam Newton to level the match.

A good period of play by both sides followed. The NSW police made a good break which was chased down by Adam Foggerty. Some nice interplay between Steven Brown and Richard Whitehouse resulted in a penalty for holding down, which Adam Newton duly converted to put the British side into the lead for the first time. The league was extended after man of th match Paul McMillan scored his hat-trick after gathering a cross field kick by Chris Sheffield. The British side began to show their dominance as they kept the pressure up as a mazy run by Adam Newton who found Richard Whitehouse who zigzagged over the line just before the final whistle. Making the final score 32-18.The result reflected the keenly fought contest against a strong NSW police side who struggled in the second half as the British Police found their rhythm and put their game plan into action. The British police side will be looking to continue their momentum when they come up against Papa New Guinea Police in 3 days time.

British Police:

Daniel Atherton, Adam Foggerty, Mark Elvidge, Michael Kearns, Steven Brown, Keiron Maddocks, Daniel Adams, Alan Clark, Stuart Meeks, Christopher Sheffield, Andrew Eastham, Adam Newton, Nicholas Smart, Jamie Brentley, Matthew Dunn, Peter Sutcliffe, Thomas Dyson, Jamie Dixon, Andrew Woodhead, Christopher Cowling, Daniel Burton, Richard Whitehouse, Rasheed Alawiye, Philip Green, Paul McMillan, Colin Haigh.

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5