NORMALLY when Australia win the first Ashes Test, one would expect the three-match series to already be all but over.

However, on the evidence of Saturday's incredible 22-18 encounter at Wigan's JJB Stadium, this time you just don't know.

Great Britain played all but 12 seconds of the match a man down after Adrian Morley, the Australia-based forward, was red-carded in record time for a wildly high tackle on Robbie Kearns, which left the Kangaroo front-rower out of the game.

It was the first tackle of the match and led to the fastest sending-off in international rugby league history and quite possibly in any sport at this level.

After such a start, only the most optimistic of Brits would have expected the Lions, without an Ashes series victory since 1970, to get anything from the game. But David Waite's 16 remaining men, led by captain Andy Farrell, gave a display of determination, vigour and skill to come within four minutes of a remarkable victory.

It was an agonising finale as the Kangaroos, just when it mattered most, put together the best move of the game as Craig Wing broke clear to send in captain Darren Lockyer for the decisive try, Craig Fitzgibbon securing the win with the conversion and a penalty after a rushed drop-out by Paul Deacon sailed straight out.

Such late drama had looked unlikely after Morley's dismissal, followed 13 minutes later by Australia's first try scored by Phil Bailey taking advantage of the overlap out wide.

But the Lions, showing immense belief, were always in it. Sean Long set up the equaliser when his long pass saw Gary Connolly send debutant Brian Carney squeezing in and, although Australia led 8-4 at half-time courtesy of a try by Trent Waterhouse, benefiting from Lockyer's cute kick, Britain still refused to lie down.

The numbers were temporarily evened when Mick Crocker was sin-binned for punching Carney, who had completed a last-ditch tackle on the try-line, and, after Lockyer badly fumbled a kick to give away a scrum, Keith Senior did brilliantly to pick up a low pass and reach the whitewash.

Long goaled and the lead could have been increased after Senior broke upfield but his difficult pass was not held by Kris Radlinski.

Long did up the lead with a penalty for offside but at the other end Brett Kimmorley gave a great pass for Craig Gower to cross, the conversion swinging the game back Australia's way.

Ironically, Gower dropped the restart which set up the position for Carney's second try, superbly finished in the corner and goaled by Deacon.

It had fans thinking back to Wembley 1994 when the Lions, down to 12 men after Shaun Edwards' first-half sending-off, beat the Aussies thanks to another stunning try, that one scored by a Welshman, Jonathan Davies. This time it was an Irishman who was the toast of the British Isles.

Lockyer made sure it wasn't to be, but if ever a Lions side could take heart from a defeat, it was now.

Okay, the Aussies were without several injured stars but they were still big favourites, and they will remain so for the series having drawn first blood.

Furthermore, Morley was facing a specially-convened disciplinary hearing this evening. He has his sympathisers - his captain, his coach and even his 'victim' have described him as aggressive but not malicious, while the way he left the field in tears showed genuine remorse - but there is a possibility he could be banned for the series, leaving the Lions without the man the Aussies arguably respect the most.

But it is hard to believe Britain would have lost had they had their full quota of players and, although Australia usually improve over a series, the Lions should take confidence if not complacency from this game.

Updated: 11:04 Monday, November 10, 2003