Clive Woodward's team came out firing in the first game of the Lions Tour against the Bay of Plenty tonight with two tries in the first six minutes. But the score at halftime was 17-17 after the Bay showed their mettle.
There was an early blow to the Lions' campaignwith veteran Lawrence Dallaglio going down with an apparent ankle injury midway through the half and being stretchered off.
Josh Lewsey opened the scoring with a try after just two minutes, and touched down just inside the corner flag again four minutes later.
The fast pace the Lions went out at caused the Bay team, who shone in the NPC last year, serious problems and they struggled to achieve any early possession.
A Ronan O'Gara cross-field kick to Mark Cueto, a late call-up to the squad, was turned into the third try of the night. O'Gara slotted the ball between the posts for the first time to give a 17-0 lead after 11 minutes.
There was a full house of more than 30,000 at Rotorua International Stadium for the game played in cool, dry conditions.
And the home crowd were finally given something to cheer about when Colin Bourke got on the score sheet for the Steamers, with a 16th minute try that Murray Williams converted.
Bourke crossed after the Bay took advantage of a penalty to set up a lineout close to the Lions' try-line.
Dallaglio's injury then further disrupted the Lions' momentum. Fellow Englishman Martin Corry came on as his replacement.
The Bay continued to claw their way back into the game and won a kickable penalty just left of the posts after half an hour. Williams put the ball over to take the score to 17-10.
Minutes later Williams converted his own try to bring the Steamers level.
* A full report follows at the end of the game. For analysis of tonight's game, log on to nzherald.co.nz from 5am Sunday NZT (6pm Saturday BST/IST)
