Match Report

Western Province

The British and Irish Lions

Tries. Pietersen		Tries. Bowe, Monye, M.Williams
Conv.		Conv. Jones (1)
Pen. de Waal (4)		Pen. Jones (2) Hook (1)
DG. Pietersen (1) de Waal (1)		DG.

The British and Irish Lionsvs Western Province13th June 2009SheridanReesVickeryO'CallaghanHinesWorsleyWilliamsPowellEllisS.JonesFluteyEarlsBoweMonyeKearney

The British and Irish Lions

1. Sheridan
2. Rees
3. Vickery (c)
4. O'Callaghan
5. Hines
6. Worsley
7. Williams
8. Powell

9. Ellis
10. S.Jones
11. Monye
12. Flutey
13. Earls
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

Western Province

1. Blaauw
2. Liebenberg
3. Harris
4. Muller
5. van Zyl
6. Louw
7. Vermeulen
8. Watson (c)

9. Duvenage
10. de Waal
11. Bobo
12. Grant
13. Newman
14. Chavhanga
15. Pietersen

Shimange,
Moller (Blaauw, 75),
Steenkamp (Muller, 66),

Jordaan (Louw, 73),
Hoffmann,
Engelbrecht,
Aplon (Chavhanga, 38)

Match Report

A narrow victory over Currie Cup side Western Province ensured the Lions kept their 100-per-cent record intact with the crunch first Test against South Africa only a week away.

Ian McGeechan’s side won a tight game 26-23 outscoring their hosts three tries to one but still had to rely on a 77th-minute penalty from James Hook to seal victory in Cape Town.

Tries in the first-half from wingers Bowe and Monye, another after 55 minutes scored by flanker Martyn Williams and a further eight points from the boot of Stephen Jones kept the Lions’ ahead until a late try from full-back Joe Pietersen put them in real danger of losing and ending the fine start they had already made to the 10-match tour.

However, fly-half Willem de Waal missed the vital conversion to leave the scores level at 23-23 with only 16 minutes left on the clock. This put the Lions' under severe pressure, but they kept their composure and ensured a last gasp victory with a penalty from substitute full-back Hook.

The first half hour was dominated by the boot with both teams trading penalties before de Waal and Pietersen both made drop goals to give Western Province a 3 point lead. At this the Lions' rallied and hit back with two tries before half-time.

Lions top try scorer Bowe was heavily involved in both, he scored the first himself after 28 minutes before slicing through the Western Province defence and setting up wing partner Monye for their second try in seven minutes.

No. 8 Powell claimed a high ball deep in his own half before charging through the opposition and deftly offloaded to countryman Williams. He linked perfectly with scrum-half Harry Ellis who kept the Lions' on the front foot by shifting the ball wide.

Keith Earls provided a decoy run and Rob Kearney provided the scoring pass. However, Bowe still had three defenders to beat before he could claim his fourth try of the tour. The Ospreys star made light work of what was in front of him. Spinning out of the first tackle he ran straight through two more and forced the ball down five metres from the right-hand touchline.

Jones failed to add the extras but he didn't make the same mistake twice. Slotting a conversion from an identical position on the opposite side of the field when Monye crossed the line in the 35th minute.

Bowe was involved again as he set up Monye for his third try of the tour. Collecting a Jones pass behind the first line of attackers on the halfway line he cut through the Western Province midfield and brilliantly offloaded to set Monye free. He continued at full steam and dived over the line to score in the corner, this along with Jones' well-taken conversion put the Lions nine points ahead.

Penalties either side of half-time from de Waal cut the deficit to just three points, although a third Lions try again stretched their lead, Western Province had their tails up and refused to give up without a fight.

The third score was all about the forwards. Their power allowed the Lions to recycle possession repeatedly with each attacking surge well supported by each and every available forward. After a slow and patient build up Williams spotted a gap and stormed over the line. He saw scrum-half Dewaldt Duvenage defending the narrow blindside and simply barged his more lightweight opponent aside to send the Lions eight points clear with 25 minutes left to play.

Jones failed to convert from wide on the left. Despite this the Lions seemed more comfortable and looked as if they would go on to control the rest of the match. This was not the case and de Waal's fourth penalty of the afternoon brought Western Province back to within a single score.

That score came four minutes later when Pietersen touched down for the home sides first try of the match. Second row Anton Van Zyl made a strong burst from the midfield to create the scoring opportunity, and when de Waal's superb arching pass found Pietersen in acres of space out wide, he cruised past prop Murray to score in the corner.

This made the scores level at 23 point apiece and the Lions were in real danger of suffering a shock defeat so close to the first Test in Durban. However the Lions' gritted their teeth and finished the stronger of the two sides.

The under pressure Lions were rewarded with two penalties in the closing minutes, Hook missed the first but kept his composure to slot the second and put the Lions three points in front with only three minutes left on the clock.

This secured a valuable victory for the Lions, keeping their confidence high and allowing them to go into their final warm up match against the Southern Kings (Tues 16th June 2pm) with their 100% record still intact.