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Highlanders beat Lions in rugby thriller

The British and Irish Lions have suffered their second tour defeat, pipped at the death of a pulsating match 23-22 by the Highlanders.

Jack Nowell of the Lions shows his disappointment
The British and Irish Lions have suffered their second tour defeat, pipped 23-22 by the Highlanders. (AAP)

One final push has secured a famous win for the Highlanders, pipping the British and Irish Lions 23-22 in a thriller in Dunedin.

Reserve five-eighth Marty Banks landed a wide penalty with six minutes remaining and the hosts then held the tourists out to secure victory in the Highlanders' first match against an international team.

A home team missing nine first-choice players were outscored three tries to two in an even and fast-paced affair.

However, they won the goalkicking battle, landing five shots from six while tourists managed three from six.

The last Lions miss was a 58m shot from reserve fullback Elliot Daly two minutes from time, whose attempted match-winner fell just short.

The second Lions loss from four games was in contrast to their griding 12-3 defeat of the Crusaders three days earlier, a result they hoped had swung tour momentum their way.

Not many of the tourists will have boosted their Test chances, with coach Warren Gatland to name close to a full-strength side to face the Maori All Blacks on Saturday in Rotorua.

Too many errors worked against them, along with a 12-7 penalty count dished out by Australian referee Angus Gardner.

The scores were locked at 10-10 after a lighting-quick first half.

The first three-and-a-half minutes set the tone, with non-stop rugby from both teams eventually resulting in a successful penalty shot from Highlanders five-eighth Lima Sopoaga.

Lions opposite Dan Biggar matched that after fellow-Welsh half Rhys Webb was held up short of the line.

Winger Waisake Naholo, released from All Blacks duty to play the match, put his team 10-3 ahead, barrelling past lock Courtney Lawes from close range after his team spurned a number of penalty kick opportunities.

A sick-looking Lawes left the game after his head was rocked back in a collision with Naholo's shoulder, putting future tour appearances in doubt for the tough English forward.

The Lions struck back quickly through their best-worked try of the tour, when speedy England centre Jamie Joseph was put into space and was barely touched in a 30m run to the line.

Just after halftime, Scottish winger Tommy Seymour brought his tour to life by outjumping Naholo to claim a Sopoaga cross-kick and scampering 40m to score.

Sopoaga's second penalty was followed by a try to Lions skipper Sam Warburton, the flanker capping a busy night by stretching out to score under the crossbar to put his team 22-13 clear.

With the tourists tiring, Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman scored from a lineout drive before Banks' decisive penalty off the back of a massive scrum from his pack.


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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