Lions: Lions lose their first match in the tour

Australia A 28 Lions 25 (full time)

The Lions lost their unbeaten tour record Down Under following an undisciplined display against Australia A at North Power Stadium.

Australia A fly-half Manuel Edmonds booted five penalties to give the Wallabies’ second-string a comfortable lead.

And the Lions also saw centre Mike Catt, making his first tour appearance after being sidelined by a calf muscle injury, worryingly limp off just before the break.

Lions coach Graham Henry had billed today’s clash as the toughest game his

players would face outside the three-Test series against Australia.

It kicked off against a backdrop of allegations from Australia A coach Eddie

Jones, who condemned alleged Lions’ foul play during their 42-8 victory over

Super 12 semi-finalists Queensland Reds in Brisbane last Saturday.

Lions manager Donal Lenihan rejected Jones’ accusations, but like Henry, knew the tourists would be seriously challenged by a Wallabies shadow XV containing nine senior internationals.

And the Lions found themselves under early pressure, with both wing Ben Cohen and scrum-half Austin Healey scurrying back to clear danger.

Neil Jenkins hit the post with a seventh-minute penalty chance, but made amends from similar 40-metre range just two minutes later to edge his team 3-0 ahead.

Edmonds equalised Jenkins’ strike, yet the early exchanges proved strangely

muted, given how an outspoken Jones had attempted to raise the stakes.

Lions wing Jason Robinson hauled Australia A full-back Richard Graham into

touch following rare attacking adventure from either side.

But the Lions’ defence found itself under growing pressure, and it took a superb Healey tackle after Lawrence Dallaglio had missed his man to keep their try-line intact.

A second Edmonds penalty put Australia A in front, but they immediately lost

Graham, who was stretchered off after being on the receiving end of Cohen’s

crunching tackle.

Jenkins then tied the game at 6-6 through an effortless penalty strike, although overall, it was unconvincing stuff from the Lions.

Edmonds completed his penalty hat-trick as number eight Scott Quinnell was

led away with blood streaming from his nose, the legacy of a needless midfield collision with Healey, then struck again, punishing further Lions technical indiscipline.

Quinnell’s Wales team-mate Colin Charvis went on to replace him, but as New

Zealand referee Paul Honiss blew for half-time, another Edmonds penalty had

given Australia A an impressive 15-6 advantage.

Catt failed to reappear for the second period, raising inevitable doubts that his tour could be over, given such a prolonged fitness battle before today’s ncounter.

Early news from the dressing room was not good and he looked a forlorn figure when he hobbled away, accompanied by Lions doctor James Robson.

The Lions conceded 14 penalties during a forgettable first-half effort, and continued to look in disarray, especially at lineouts, where Scott Murray and Malcolm O’Kelly struggled as a second-row partnership.

Cohen was forced to concede a scrum under pressure from a dangerous

Australian counter-attack and the Lions clearly needed inspiration having been on the back-foot for far too long.

Henry made a double 54th-minute substitution, sending on hooker Gordon

Bulloch for Robin McBryde and replacing O’Kelly with Jeremy Davidson.

But territorially the Lions still could not make significant headway and they conceded a well-worked try that meant they were left with a mountain to climb.

Slick passing stretched the Lions’ defence, centre Graeme Bond cutting inside and then sending a delightful pass to wing Scott Staniforth, who sprinted nopposed to the line.

Edmonds’ conversion sent Australia A into an emphatic 22-6 lead, although the Lions hit back immediately when Catt’s replacement, Wales centre MarkTaylor, sniped over for touchdown which his fellow substitute Matt Dawson converted.

Entering the closing quarter, the Lions trailed 22-13.

Dallaglio was yellow carded eight minutes from time for trying to clear the ball from a ruck with his hand, and Edmonds kicked the resulting penalty.

Although full-back Matt Perry and wing Jason Robinson pounced for late

touchdowns, Matt Dawson kicking another conversion, the Lions’ unbeaten tour

record ended as they lost 28-25.