Lions restore pride with late win

A James Hook penalty at the death againt Western Province maintained the tourists 100 per cent start to the tour of South Africa

FIRST POSTED JUNE 14, 2009

Western Province 23 Lions 26. The British and Irish Lions maintainted their 100 per cent record in South Africa with an epic victory over a spirited Western Province team thanks to a late penalty from Wales fly half James Hook.

There were tries for wingers Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye - who are now look the favourites for Test places - and flanker Martyn Williams.

But their South African opponents, despite missing several Springboks, gave the tourists a huge scare and drew level on points before Hook's penalty with three minutes remaining handed the Lions their narrowest victory of the tour so far.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

Stephen Jones, Sunday Times: "So soon before the first Test, it might be deemed an alarmingly shaky win. Yet there is no panic in the Lions camp because this was the match that set the tour on the road. Western Province were superb. They came to compete and, as Luke Watson, their captain, said afterwards, they came to enjoy the 'awesome experience' of playing against the British & Irish Lions. They even ditched their silly Super 14 nickname, calling themselves simply Western Province in honour of the grand history of tour matches between the two teams. So they were worthy opponents and a Lions team containing only four or five likely contenders for the Test side did well enough to win."

Paul Rees, the Observer: "It was the most merited of the weekend victories, with the Lions slipping out of the ascendancy only after they had made a raft of substitutions, having taken an eight-point lead. They outscored Province three tries to one; they put together some notable passages of play, with the link work of Williams especially eye-catching; they changed their approach to the tackle area; and they dealt effectively with a barrage of kicks – but they gave away far too many needless penalties."

Ian Stafford, Mail on Sunday: "With the first Test against South Africa in Durban now six days away, McGeechan had much of his starting XV confirmed by the hard-fought victory in difficult wet and windy conditions. But he also now has the happy problem, when he sits down to pick the Test team with his fellow coaches after the final warm-up game on Tuesday, of some fierce competition for places."