Win For Lions In Invercargill

It needed a 79th minute Ronan O’Gara penalty to put this match beyond the reach of the home side who ended up gallant 26-16 losers in Invercargill.

The Lions took the lead thanks to a sixth minute Ronan O’Gara penalty and they extended their advantage in the 12th minute when O’Gara added the extras to a Gavin Henson try.

Southland, living off scraps for the most part, opened their account with an Apanui penalty on sixteen minutes and with the last kick of the half the Southland out-half had an opportunity to narrow the margin with a penalty after the Lions had turned over the ball but his effort drifted wide.

Henson was one of the differences between the two sides, the other was Southland number 8 Paul Miller and his departure through injury was an enormous benefit to the Lions.

Hale T-Pole’s 46th minute try converted by Apanui tied the match but Henson scored his second try under the posts in the 52nd minute to put the Lions seven points clear.

O’Gara and Apanui swopped 2 penalties apiece and in the end it needed that O’Gara late strike to ensure a Lions victory.