Lions come through physical battle
Ugo Monye expected to play in the first Test
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Tuesday, 16, Jun 2009 10:53
The British and Irish Lions came through a bruising encounter against the Southern Kings to claim a 20-8 win in Port Elizabeth.
An Ugo Monye try, a penalty try and 10 points from the boot of Ronan O'Gara gave the Lions a 20-3 lead, before the home side scored a late try through Mpho Mbiyozo.
The win came at a price though as the Lions were left nursing a number of injuries ahead of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday. It took only three minutes for the first big hit to go in as Gordon D'Arcy was on the receiving end of a high tackle from Frikkie Welsh.
Lions coach Ian McGeechan decided to rest a number of his key players for this game and it seemed like a wise decision as his team lost two players inside the first quarter of the game.
Scotland forward Euan Murray limped off with an ankle injury and Wales fly-half James Hook was taken off with a nasty looking next injury.
The Lions had fallen behind in the first minute as Jaco van der Westhuyzen knocked over a penalty for the Kings. It took the Lions 27 minutes to get back on level terms as O'Gara – on for the injured Hook – slotted over a penalty.
The big hits continued to come from the Kings as this time Wylie Human took out Joe Worsley with a late tackle.
The Lions were lucky to go in on level terms as van der Westhuyzen missed a couple of penalties and O'Gara made a brilliant try-saving tackle to stop Wylie Human touching down.
O'Gara kicked a penalty from 40 metres out at the start of the second-half to give the Lions the lead and then it was from his cross-field kick that Monye scored. Kings left winger Matthew Turner was unable to take the high ball and Monye took advantage to score his fourth try of the tour.
O'Gara kicked the conversion and when the Lions were awarded a penalty try after 69 minutes as the Kings were penalised for infringement in the scrum, the Lions had a 17 point lead and the match was over.
The Kings managed to score a late try from the impressive Mbiyozo, but the Lions held on to claim their sixth warm-up win in six matches.