Lions Scrape to Win Over Cheetahs: 26-24

06/06/09 15:48 Filed in: Results
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The British & Irish Lions scrapped to victory this afternoon against a very determined Cheetahs side.

After an awesome start where the Lions went 20-0 up, the Lions dropped off the pace as the Cheetahs bared their own claws and fought their way back into the match. This was undoubtedly the first real test for the Lions team and there was a notable lack of creativity and power in the back line. Likewise the back-row unit did not go hugely well as Andy Powell, despite carrying a huge amount of ball, looked somewhat one dimensional.

A close kicking duel was won by the Lions as James Hook slotted all 6 efforts. Opposite number Jacques Louis-Potgieter missed with two efforts and Strydom missed a late drop goal. Frankly Hook proved the difference between the sides.

Heinrich Brussow looked awesome for the Cheetahs and the unlucky excluded Springbok looked clean to prove PdV wrong. After Keith Earls and Stephen Ferris got the Lions off the mark with two excellent tries, the Cheetahs proved they weren't planning on being walked over. Ferris was yellow carded on 21 mins and the Cheetahs went on a scoring spree with tries from winger Demas and prop du Preez.

The second half was a terse scrappy affair and while the Lions put themselves in scoring territory for much of the time, they couldn't find the cutting edge to split a sharp Cheetahs defence. At 26-17 with the Lions looking like they might close out the game, Shane Williams, looking desperate to impress forced the pass and handed it to Uys for him to run the length of the pitch to score. Strydom converted to leave the Cheetahs just two point behind at 26-24.

A tense finished, marked by an un-characteristic drop from Lee Byrne that looked to have included a painful ball on the end of an outstretched finger and a missed all-or-nothing drop goal by Strydom to win the game.

Finally with ball in hand and a chance to finish it with a second drop goal attempt, the Cheetahs infringed at the breakdown in the final phase of play to let the Lions off the hook.

The Lions have certainly had their first real test. We'll have more coverage with player ratings late tonight and a full match analysis tomorrow.

Scoring Summary

British and Irish Lions (23) 26
Tries: Ferris, Earls Cons: Hook 2
Pens: Hook 4

Cheetahs (14) 24
 Tries: Dumas, Du Preez, Uys
Cons: Louis-Potgieter 2, Strydom
Pen: Louis-Potgieter
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