Ban puts Stevens out of second Test

Great Britain and Australia have both lost a player each from their plans for the second Guinness Test at Bolton on Saturday, with Jason Stevens banned for one match for the stamping incident in the first Test and Adrian Morley ruled out of the series by his arm injury.

Stevens was named in the report for the offence which left Terry O'Connor needing stitches in his jaw. An International Federation disciplinary hearing yesterday found him guilty of reckless striking and fined him £500 as well as suspending him.

The Australian management is taking legal advice, arguing that Stevens was charged with deliberate striking, rather than reckless striking, and thus denied the opportunity to defend himself properly. Their appeal, if there is one, will be heard tomorrow, but if Chris Anderson is without Stevens, his most experienced prop, he still has four other front-row men who were involved in the First Test.

The loss of Morley, while not entirely unexpected, is a blow to Britain's preparations for the two remaining Tests. The Great Britain coach, David Waite, said: "We didn't go to the trouble of bringing him into the squad for nothing. Someone with his point of view of the Australian game was going to be an integral part of our group.''

The Sydney City player was ruled out by the British medical team after they judged that the arm he broke last season was still in danger of further damage if he played. Britain's other broken-arm victim, Terry Newton, is out of plaster and will learn from a specialist today whether he will be able to take any part in the series.