Henry Paul inspired New Zealand to a second half comeback and a record score against Great Britain despite being behind at half time.

Dave Woods reports from Bolton

The home side looked set to take the three-match Test series to a decider at Watford's Vicarage Road, with a 16-8 interval lead.

But the second half at Bolton's Reebok stadium saw the introduction of Henry Paul and a devastating display led to 28 points without reply.

The home side's hopes of levelling the series had suffered a double blow before the game when established internationals Paul Newlove and Adrian Morley both pulled out through injury.

Morley failed to shake off an ankle injury while Newlove withdrew after sustaining an Achilles injury in training.

Paul Sculthorpe took Morley's second row spot, while Keith Senior was switched from wing to his normal centre position in place of Newlove and Leeds winger Francis Cummins came in for his Test debut.

New Zealand were unchanged from the First Test and took an early lead from through Stacey Jones and Richie Barnett.

Jones began the move on halfway and found Barnett twice - the second time putting the full back in to touch down.

Britain pulled two points back on 17 minutes when Kevin Iro was pulled up for an obstruction on Gary Connolly and skipper Andy Farrell succeeded with the goalkick.

Robinson bursts through for his try

Midway through the first half Great Britain were ahead thanks to Jason Robinson, who came off his wing to take a pass from Keiron Cunningham.

He then scythed between the Kiwi forwards before wrong-footing Barnett for a score reminiscent of his Grand Final match-winner.

Darryl Halligan then struck a superb 45-metre penalty to tie the scores on 27 minutes before a second Farrell penalty restored Britain's lead.

British pressure at the end of the first half eventually paid off with just 23 seconds on the clock.

Long passes by Farrell and Smith enabled Britain to create an overlap on the left, and a try for Iestyn Harris.

Paul on to inspire comeback

Coach Frank Endacott had sent on Henry Paul to increase his attacking options and the Wigan star went within an ace of scoring, held just inches short of the line by Radlinski.

However, Radlinski could do little to stop substitute Tony Puletua as he took possession at the tackle and forced the ball over the line.

Halligan's goal cut the deficit to just two points and three minutes later New Zealand re-gained the lead when Barnett leaped high to take Jones' high kick and touch down.

New Zealand scored their fourth try on 62 minutes when Harris lost the ball in a crunching tackle on halfway.

Winger Sean Hoppe was left with a clear run to the line, before Halligan's fifth successful goal made it 26-16.

Britain's response was not strong enough to stem the tide and in the 66th, Ruben Wiki ran in to score at the corner.

For once the angle was beyond Halligan, although he ended the night converting Henry Paul's first international try.

Paul had broken free as Britain desperately tried to fight back - they came close with one effort inches short of the line right underneath the posts.

But in the end the Kiwis showed that their First Test win at Huddersfield was no fluke, and they now head south with an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

Great Britain

Radlinski, Robinson, Connolly, Senior, Cummins, Harris, Smith, Cowie, Cunningham, Laughton, Joynt, Sculthorpe, Farrell. Substitutes: O'Connor, Haughton, Gilmour, Howard.

New Zealand

Barnett, Hoppe, Wiki, K Iro, Halligan, R Paul, Jones, Vagana, Eru, Pongia, Kearney, McCracken, Swann. Substitutes: H Paul, T Iro, Cayless, Puletua.