Bridgend Blue Bulls and Celtic Crusaders’ Lloyd O’Connor starred for Great Britain students in their first match of their Academic Ashes tour of Australia.

O’Connor was on the scoresheet against a strong New South Wales Students team last Wednesday as Britain ran out 24-16 winners despite being hammered in the penalty count 13-3 by referee Jim Oliviera.

Kevin Till opened the scoring for Britain after NSW knocked on near to the line and Stu Anderson soon made the score 10-0 and Till added another to put the half-time score at 16-0.

New South Wales hit back with tries from Ian Gordon and Denis Everard but O’Connor’s try in the 59th minute settled things.

Great Britain fell in the second match on Saturday though losing 66-10 to the Australian Affiliated States that contain students from outside of the Australian rugby league hotbeds of New South Wales and Queensland. O’Connor played in the match, as did Cardiff Demons full-back Matt Jackson who kicked a successful conversion to Nick Walker’s try. Anderson was the other British try scorer.

Great Britain play their first test against Australia this Wednesday.

article by Ian Golden
10 July 2005