Lions Win Mis-Match in Palmerston North.

Three first half tries from Shane Williams & two from Ronan O’Gara in the second, helped the Lions to a 109-6 victory over second Division NPC side Manawatu in Palmerston North today.

Three first half tries fromShane Williams, and two from Ronan O’Gara in the second, helped the Lions to a 109-6 victory over second Division NPC side Manawatu in Palmerston North today.

Playing against the weakest opposition on this tour, the Lions led 38-6 at half-time with that hat-trick from Williams and further tries from Geordan Murphy, Martin Corry and Jason Robinson.

Eleven tries were scored in a second half whose highlight was the incursion of a streaker onto the pitch in the 63rd minute.

And the other highlight was the comment from from Sky’s Miles Harrison to co-commentator, Stuart Barnes.

” It’s all getting a little too easy, Stuart ?”

That litttle gem came in the 55th minute after Ronan O’Gara had scored the 12th try of the match to make the score 74-6 !!

Lions: Geordan Murphy; Jason Robinson (M Cueto), Ollie Smith, Gordon D’Arcy, Shane Williams; Charlie Hodgson (R.O’Gara 50 mins), Chris Cusiter (G Cooper 40 mins); Andy Sheridan, Gordon Bulloch (capt) (A Titterall), John Hayes (M Stevens 59 mins), Simon Shaw, Donncha O’Callaghan (B Cockbain 40 mins), Martin Corry, Martyn Williams (N Back 40 mins), Michael Owen.

Manawatu: Frank Bryant; Bevan Gray, Jason Campbell, Matt Oldridge, Johnny Leota; Graham Smith, Jonathan Hargreaves; Sam Moore, Nathan Kemp (capt), Keni Barrett, Tim Faleafaga, Paul Rodgers, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bradnock, Bryan Matenga. Replacements: Simon Easton, Isaac Cook, Paula Maisiri, Chris Moke, David Palu, Nick Buckley, Ben Trew.

Referee: Lyndon Bray.