Lions Win Physical Encounter With Kings: Lions 20-8 Kings

16/06/09 16:00 Filed in: Results
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The Lions managed to edge out a win over a ferociously physical Southern Kings XV this afternoon in Port Elizabeth. The Lions were shell shocked in the first quarter by an incredibly aggressive invitational outfit and by the half it was only 3 points a piece after penalties from Ronan O'Gara and J van der Westhuyzen.

In the first half, the Southern Kings looked like a team out to simply smash the Lions into submission and while there were big hits across the park, James Hook, Riki Flutey and Gordon D'Arcy received particularly special treatment. Hook departed early on with a knock to the head and Ronan O'Gara came on to replace him. Euan Murray also left the field on one leg and looks to have an ankle injury severe enough to rule him out of the remainder of the tour, though it is unclear at this stage.

The breakdown was again a problem area for the Lions as they simply failed to impose themselves. Too often the tourists gave away penalties both in possession and in defence and time and again they turned over the ball. The Lions couldn't find any real rhythm and although at times the pace was hugely frenetic neither team could find a way through the opposition until after the break.

The Lions once again proved their ability to pull the result out of the fire and in the second half a string of good kicks from Ronan O'Gara and a touch and go try for Ugo Monye finally gave the visitors some breathing room. The Lions genuine dominance at the scrum continued and they turned the screw while camped on their hosts 5m before Nigel Owens finally blew for the penalty try. The Kings never looked like a team willing to lie down though, and when they found space down the right flank, they setup great attacking ball to bundle M Mbiyozo over in the corner.

In the end, despite the Kings hugely impressive performance which, frankly surprised the Lions, the tourists managed to once again drive out the win. The manner hasn't always been majestic, but the Lions remain a tough nut to crack and can consider themselves genuinely streetwise and battle hardened as the reunite as a squad ahead of the first test this Saturday.

Scoring Summary
Lions (3) 20

Tries: Monye, Penalty Try
Cons: O'Gara 2
Pens: O'Gara 2

Kings (3) 8

 Tries: Mbiyozo
Pens: Van der Westhuyzen
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