Dawson hero for Lions in nailbiter

CANBERRA - Halfback Matt Dawson turned from villain to hero at Bruce Stadium last night when his conversion with the last kick of the game gave the Lions a thrilling 30-28 win over the Brumbies.

Dawson, under heavy fire for ill-judged comments critical of the Lions management leading up to last weekend's first test against Australia, showed a cool head to convert winger Austin Healey's second try of the match and steal the game from the Super 12 champions.

Until that final scoring action, the Lions seemed set to suffer their second loss of the tour, having already been beaten by Australia A, in their final provincial match of the trip.

Both teams scored three tries in the entertaining match, but the Lions had to come from behind after making a scratchy start and trailing the Brumbies 14-0 inside the opening quarter.

Slowly they clawed their way back but still trailed the Brumbies 23-28 as the game entered its final seconds.

Then the Lions mounted a desperate late attack. That culminated in moving the ball wide to the left where the versatile Healey jinked inside two tacklers to cross midway between the corner flag and the posts.

Dawson showed impressive concentration to stroke the conversion between the posts before beingsurrounded by jubilant team-mates.

Both teams lost a player to the sin bin during a sometimes sparky second half.

Fullback Iain Balshaw was given a spell by referee Peter Marshall after a head high tackle, which prompted a brief scuffle, while flanker Peter Ryan followed shortly after.

With only Martin Corry surviving from the test team the Lions never looked able to get to grips with a lively and committed Brumbies team who also contained only a handful of first-team regulars, during the first half.

Tries by Mark Bartholomeusz and Willie Gordon in the first 12 minutes, both converted by Travis Hall, had the Brumbies deservedly ahead and Des Tuiavii added a third after 26 minutes following a charging run by Ryan.

After an early Dawson penalty the Lions rarely threatened the line. However, they ended the half on a bright note when Healey intercepted on the halfway line to get his first try just before the interval.

The Lions looked sharper early in the second half and a David Wallace try and Dawson penalty reduced the deficit to two points.

Hall and Dawson exchanged penalties to make it 25-23 to the Brumbies, and Hall added his third three-pointer in injury time.

But that remarkable late drive gave the tourists' dirt trackers something to savour out of the tour.

British Lions 30 (Austin Healey 2, David Wallace tries; Matt Dawson 3 pen, 3 con)

Brumbies 28 (Mark Bartholomeusz, Willie Gordon, Des Tuiavii tries; Travis Hall 3 pen, 2 con).

Halftime: 10-22.