Hook saves below-par Lions
James Hook staked his claim for a Test place
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Saturday, 13, Jun 2009 10:25
James Hook rescued the British and Irish Lions with a late penalty to give them a hard fought 26-23 win over the Western Province.
Willem De Waal gave Province an early lead with a penalty after Harry Ellis was caught off-side. Stephen Jones replied for the Lions with a couple of successful penalty kicks.
The Lions were unable to get going early on and Western Province took advantage as first De Waal kicked a drop-goal and then Joe Pietersen kicked another to give the South African side a 11-9 lead.
A minute after the drop-goal, the Lions finally got their act together as good work from Andy Powell and Martyn Williams resulted in Tommy Bowe rolling over for the try. Jones was unable to convert, but the Lions increased their lead seven minutes later.
The rampaging Bowe was involved in the second try as he charged through three tackles before off-loading to Ugo Monye to score in the left corner. Jones was able to add the extras this time to give the Lions an 18-9 lead.
De Waal kicked a penalty in the last action of the first-half to reduce the gap to just six points heading into the break. That lead was cut to just three points at the start of the second-half when De Waal kicked another three points when the Lions were caught off-side.
The Lions gave themselves breathing space when after a sustained amount of pressure on the Province try-line, Williams got in for the try.
De Waal though was in great kicking form and got the Province back to within five points with another penalty as try-scorer Williams was penalised for going into the side of a ruck.
Western Province then showed their attacking flair as they first drove down the right before working the ball out to the left where Pietersen was in acres of space and he dived in for the try. The scores were now level on 23-23 and the Lions were in danger of being embarrassed.
With three minutes to go, Province were guilty of collapsing the scrum and Hook kicked the penalty from close to the halfway line to give the Lions victory.